Accessibility Within the Narragansett Bay Watershed

Picture it: it’s summer and there are fishermen casting and reeling at dawn, children playing at the beach on a hot day, a group of kayakers paddling down a quiet stream, families capturing the perfect portrait as the sun sets in front of the crashing waves. This quintessential summer day is a reality for many, but not for everyone.

Water access is not universally accessible. Individuals with mobility challenges often struggle to find suitable access points. These picturesque scenes are common, but not all locations accommodate those with accessibility needs.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted in the 1990s, spearheaded the movement for accessibility in state-owned parks and beaches. However, its impact has not consistently extended to municipal and privately-owned areas as well as Right-of-Ways (ROWs).

Access to nature builds resilient communities. While local communities have improved access to green spaces, equitable access to blue spaces (water) needs to be improved. Below are examples of accessibility design which enhance the well-being of residents and visitors. We hope these examples will inspire city planners and community leaders to enhance equitable access to fresh and saltwater. By highlighting the importance of inclusive design, we hope to emphasize the actions needed to create a more accessible future.

One exemplary example of accessibility design is Roger Wheeler State Beach. Located in Narragansett, RI, Roger Wheeler offers many features that make navigating to the shore much easier for individuals with disabilities. There are multiple handicap parking spaces available for anyone with a handicap permit or pass from their state. These spots make it so that individuals with disabilities do not have to walk far to access the beach.

Roger Wheeler features multiple ramps throughout the complex, allowing individuals with wheelchairs, canes, and crutches to move easily. The beach also provides handicap-accessible restrooms. Implementing these infrastructures within our watershed helps to allow for a more inclusive beach trip for everyone.

Beach wheelchairs, specifically made to traverse the fine sand and small pebbles along the shore, are available for people to use free of charge. These wheelchairs enable individuals with mobility challenges to enjoy the beach experience fully. Check with your local state and town beaches to make sure they have beach wheelchairs, free to use, and without needing to sign them out.

Water access isn’t just limited to saltwater beaches, but also includes freshwater locations. Watson Park State Park in Taunton, MA, for example, is one of the few freshwater and ADA compliant accesses within our watershed. Watson Pond is recognized as wheelchair accessible on the MA state gov’s website, which allows for people to easily recognize this location as accessible.

There are several investments that can be made to ensure individuals with accessibility needs can access these water access points.

Many of the ROWs have stairs leading to the shore, with rocky and barely navigable paths. This makes it impossible for wheelchair, cane, and crutch users to safely reach fishing, boating, and swimming areas.

While on-street parking may be adequate for some, others require handicap-accessible spots to ensure they can safely travel from car to access point. Adding handicap spot signs on the part of the street closest to access can help make sure everyone can reach the water.

On paths to the water, ensuring the soil and grass are smooth and free of major rocks, branches, or roots can enhance safety. Paving paths with materials like fiberglass, concrete, or treated wood helps with durability. While some beaches have invested in blue mats for wheelchair users, not all wheelchairs can roll on them. Using a weather-resistant, natural-looking material can improve the longevity of these investments.

Economic data shows that areas with the highest accessibility also experience economic benefits through tourism. For instance, municipalities along the RI coast have the most accessible locations, which boosts the local tourism economy. Conversely, inland municipalities have fewer accessible locations, which is negatively impacting local tourism and the economy. Recent data has shown a connection between local economic success to making infrastructure improvements that benefit people with disabilities, which may be because some municipalities may face financial constraints in making these changes. Grants, private funding, and fundraising can help make these projects feasible. Prioritizing these changes can help invest in the overall property values of the surrounding area and payoff in more ways than one.

Places in more urbanized areas tend to be at a greater disadvantage for accessibility on the water. Major cities such as Providence, Worcester, and Fall River have less known ADA access points compared to the more coastal and rural municipalities across the watershed.

Accessibility is crucial for economic success within the watershed. Addressing environmental injustices requires state, private, and municipal freshwater and saltwater access points to focus on inclusivity. By prioritizing accessible design, we can ensure that everyone can enjoy the beauty and tranquility of our waterfronts