Great news from the Gold Beach Visitors Center: Mobi-mats were rolled out this weekend with help from volunteers from Trailkeepers of Oregon!
At the Oregon Coast Visitors Association, part of our mission is to increase access to our beautiful coast for both visitors and residents. For this year’s Strategic Investment grant cycle, we’re focusing on funding Mobi-Mats in more locations across our destination. Gold Beach was one of the first applicants, and is the first grant recipient to roll out new mats this summer!
Mobi-mats are simple, cost-effective temporary weather-proof pathways designed to make uneven terrain accessible to people with mobility challenges. Bringing these mats to trails, beaches, or events opens up access and inclusivity to everyone.
Installation is simple, and mats can be left out all super long. In Gold Beach, a team of six volunteers from the Visitor Center and Trailkeepers of Oregon rolled the mats out in just an hour and a half, then welcomed users to use the mats for the first time over the weekend.
Gold Beach Visitor Center Lead Ruth Dixon shared that “The response from the community has been so overwhelmingly positive. This is an area with many older residents, so an opportunity like this is extremely valuable. We want everyone in the community to be able to enjoy the beach.”
Gold Beach now has both a Mobi-mat and a fixed location track chair from David’s Chair, so opportunities are opening up for even more flexible accessibility amenities. Ruth shared that “Over the weekend, someone came down to use a David’s Chair, and they were traveling with a friend in a wheelchair. With both options available, they were overjoyed to be able to get out on the beach together.”
A huge thanks to all the partners that came together to install these mats, and who are supporting the implementation of better accessibility all along the coast.
Mobi-mat Funding: Bring a Mobi-mat to your Organization
The applications are continuing to come in, and we look forward to supporting more Mobi-mat implementations along the entire coast. The grant is ongoing, and organizations who are interested in purchasing a mat should explore our comprehensive Mobi Mat Toolkit (en español), which outlines the essential steps for acquiring, sustaining, and effectively integrating a Mobi Mat within a community. Upon ensuring all necessary components of the program are in order, they can complete the application here. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis while funds are available.