Guest blogger: Merlyn Crawford
Franchise Support Account Manager at 101 Mobility®.
Just four short years ago, disabled children had limited access at Virginia Beach. Navigating through the sand was virtually impossible, and enjoying a day without some kind of mobility challenges was unrealistic. However, these struggles have vaporized with the introduction of JT’s Grommet Island Beach Park & Playground, which opened on the Virginia Beach oceanfront.
Grommet Island is the first of its kind in the country—it is a 100% accessible oceanfront park. The playground features wheelchair-accessible entrances and an incredible playground with poured-in-place surfacing, raised sand tables for sandcastle building at an accessible height, a sensory board for children who are autistic or visually impaired, and a swaying boat.
The playground also boasts sculptural features such as dolphins, a surfboard, and a wave that are all fully accessible. Children can pretend to ride the waves and swim with dolphins! Wood polymer decking extends from the playground to accessible seating areas with a hand-operated sand scoop designed for wheelchair users, allowing everybody to play in the sand.
Grommet Island is the first of its kind in the country and represents the power of people determined to make a difference in others’ lives. This is truly a remarkable accomplishment for all those who donated and participated in the conception and dedication of Grommet Island. If you or a loved one is planning on visiting this incredible park, rely on 101 Mobility® Virginia Beach for accessibility equipment rentals.
Stay tuned for our blog covering JT’s Camp Grom due to be complete in the summer of 2014! You will be amazed at what they are doing next for adults and children living with disabilities. For more accessible parks and places around the country, check out our blog post: Wheelchair Accessible National Parks and Monuments.
