MUSKEGON, MI – Those with mobility challenges are encouraged to check out a new wheelchair at Muskegon’s beach that can traverse the sand and float in the big lake.
The MobiChair was obtained by the city of Muskegon for use by visitors to its Pere Marquette beach on Lake Michigan.
Chair use is free.
The purchase of the wheelchair, which costs about $2,350, is part of the city’s emphasis on encouraging everyone to enjoy its parks.
A new mat that makes is easier to traverse the sand on foot or on wheels is being tested at the city’s Harbour Towne beach.
If it works well for those with mobility challenges, another Mobi-Mat could be installed at Pere Marquette, according to city Parks and Recreation Director Kyle Karczewski.
The city was awarded a $22,000 grant from the Michigan Parks Association to promote outdoor recreation. For Karczewski, that means promoting outdoor play to everyone, following a nationwide trend in parks and recreation to be “more inclusive,” he told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle earlier.
A new handicap-accessible playground at Reese Playfield is a prototype for more to come, and city staff have more plans for other accessible recreational opportunities.
The city recently took possession of the MobiChair, which has rubber pneumatic tires that can traverse beach sand. The wheels float as do the armrests, allowing the user to experience floating in Lake Michigan.
The chair has three seat adjustments, including one that allows the user to recline. It also has a tether to keep it from floating away.
The MobiChair can be reserved by calling the Muskegon Department of Public Works at (231) 724-4100. When available, the wheelchair can be checked out at the Beach Cove concession stand. A state-issued ID will be held as a deposit at the Beach Cove.
The chair is available from noon to 8 p.m. daily, weather permitting. The city likely will restrict use of the wheelchair for green flag days only, Karczewski said.
“I just hope it gets used,” he said.
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