Tourist 'thrilled to pieces' with Penticton's Sudbury Beach improved accessibility into Skaha Lake

A visitor from the Sunshine Coast came all the way to Penticton last week to try out the accessible chairs and mats installed at Sudbury Beach, thrilled to finally have a chance to dip into open water again.

Edna Carley said she’s been doing a road tour throughout Thompson-Okanagan and Similkameen, and she was drawn to Penticton after seeing the news about the accessible beach on Facebook.

“I've not been in the water for six years because of the walker, I can't push this on the beach,” she added.

“I was thrilled to pieces to know that this was here for people like me who can't walk on the beach.”

Despite the slightly chillier weather on that Thursday, Carley was all smiles to head into Skaha Lake.

“I'm going to love it,” she said.

The beach is now home to Mobi mats and Mobi chairs, which will help provide non-slip wheelchair beach access for handicapped accessible paths.

The mats, which are located on the east side of Sudbury Beach, will be accessible during regular beach hours and the Mobi chairs will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis from the SUP Glow stand from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

City of Penticton’s Public Works Manager Scott Boyko said while the city does have some accessibility spots at a few of the loal beaches, this is the only one that fully connects with the shoreline, through the beach, and into the water.

“So far, it's been great. The community has really embraced it. We've heard nothing but great things. So it's been very positive,” he said.

“I think it just allows everyone in the community to be able to have great access to our great beaches and utilize the beach throughout the summer season.”

The city said a community member nominated Penticton to be part of a nationwide campaign to make beaches more accessible, and the city was selected to be the third participant.

Penticton received the mats and chair as a donation.

Carley said she thoroughly enjoyed the experience, becoming weightless in the floating chair in the lake and even being able to simply walk with her walker to the shore.

"That was incredible," she said after her dip.

For more information on improvements to accessibility in city parks and beaches, visit www.penticton.ca/accessible-city.

Photo: Casey Richardson

Tourist Edna Carley is all smiles getting to get back into the water after six years