Texas Parks and Wildlife says specialized wheelchairs help visitors with mobility challenges enjoy the beach at no cost.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A day at the beach isn’t always easy for everyone, but Texas Parks and Wildlife is working to make sure more people can enjoy the Texas coast.
Visitors to Mustang Island State Park can borrow specialized beach wheelchairs free of charge, giving people with mobility challenges easier access to the sand and, in some cases, the water.
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Suzanne Smith with Texas Parks and Wildlife said the park offers two types of beach wheelchairs.
One model is designed for traveling across soft sand with oversized wheels, while the other is a floating wheelchair that allows visitors to enter the water safely.
“Anybody who comes to the park can use these wheelchairs free of charge,” Smith said. “They just need to come up to the headquarters, fill out a user agreement, and the rangers will even deliver it to them out on the beach.”
Smith said the service eliminates the need for visitors to transport the specialized equipment themselves.
The beach wheelchairs are available to anyone with mobility challenges, not just people who regularly use wheelchairs.
“Anybody who has mobility issues,” Smith said. “You don’t have to regularly use a wheelchair. We all know walking in sand can be a little bit rough, so the beach wheelchair makes it a lot easier.”
Texas Parks and Wildlife has offered beach wheelchairs for several years, with the floating wheelchair being the newest addition to the program.
Smith said providing accessible recreation is an important part of the park’s mission.
“We love when everybody gets the opportunity to enjoy our state parks, and this allows more people the opportunity.”
Visitors interested in using a beach wheelchair should stop by the Mustang Island State Park headquarters upon arrival. After completing a user agreement, park staff will deliver the wheelchair directly to their spot on the beach.