A 133-foot mobi-mat and free-to-rent beach wheelchairs were installed at Parksville Bay beach this summer, with beachgoers eager to give the new mobi-mat a try. (Access Oceanside Association)

By Jordan Davidson

mobi-mats

‘Welcome mat to the beach:’ Parksville mobi-mats improve beach access

Nov 6, 2024 | 1:53 PM

PARKSVILLE — After only a few months in operation this summer, a new accessible beach mat is already being put to good use.

Installed during the peak tourism season in July, the 133-foot mobility mat, or mobi-mat, allows those with mobility challenges easier access to Parksville Bay Beach in Community Park, starting at the concrete ramp in front of the waterfront gazebo.

Secretary treasurer with Access Oceanside Association (AOA) Ralph Tietjen told councillors on Monday, Nov. 4 there was a high-usage rate in the first three months of operation, highlighting the long weekend afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 4.

“1,893 trips in three hours. Now this is a peak of the peak days, it was a beautiful day, but it just shows you how it was used. Not many people went around or across the rocks in any other way. They used the mat. It really was, or has become, the entrance to the beach.”

Those trips include seven people with a disability device, 28 people pushing strollers, and 56 people pulling wagons.

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Tietjen said the biggest maintenance issue they’ve discovered so far is ensuring the mats are free of debris brought in by the rising tides.

“Here at AOA we talk a lot about universal access, and to me, this is the poster for universal access, in that everybody uses the mat for their own personal reasons. Maybe they just want to go barefoot, maybe they have a bit of walking disability but don’t need a disability device.”

Considerations should also be made to deploy a second mat, as traffic jams were occurring a minor issue during peak times when people trying to leave the beach had to wait for those coming from the boardwalk to clear the path, said Tietjen.

Tietjen added daily maintenance of removing rocks and vegetation from the mat would only require about 15 minutes worth of City Staff time a day, along with a weekly inspection to even out the sand base and remove any logs brought in by the high tide.

He said the community response has been very positive so far.

“It really is a welcome mat to the beach. It’s getting high traffic, to my mind, the construction of the mat was impressive on how it grips into the surface, it does not slide around, everybody that was using it remarks it’s very friendly for bare feet and little kids.”

The mats themselves were donated by Corona Canada with the Beach Club Resort, AOA, and Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association also part of the project.

Two beach wheelchairs were also included in the donation, which Tietjen said have only been reserved for use 13 times this summer, and thinks more promotion is needed. (City of Parksville)

Parksville mayor Doug O’Brien said he’s been very impressed with the mobi-mats, and said it’s something they should continue to invest in.

“I’ve been down there numerous times…we’ve noticed the participation has just been phenomenal. A good news story all the way around.”

Council will now consider adding the continued financing of the mobi-mats to their five-year financial plan.

The plan is to deploy the mats from the start of May until the end of September, weather permitting.

A number of other communities on the mid-Island have installed similar mobility mats in recent years, including three in Nanaimo last year, following the successful rollout of the seasonal mobility mats at Departure Bay Beach in 2022.

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