Swampscott’s beaches and recreation areas are becoming more accessible.
During a Commission on Disability meeting Friday, Chair Lauren Shrestha announced that the town has received donations to install eight benches at beaches, the baseball field and the dog park.
“The benches finally have gotten over the finish line,” Shrestha said.
Last summer, Shrestha and the commission launched a fundraising effort to install benches at Eisman’s Beach and New Ocean Beach.
“We live in such a beautiful town right on the ocean, so the idea that many of our residents cannot access, or fully utilize, our beaches due to accessibility issues does not sit well with us, the Swampscott Commission on Disability,” Shrestha previously told the Swampscott Tides. “We hope by adding benches, part of an ongoing effort to improve accessibility to our beaches, that more residents can enjoy our beautiful coastal views.”
The commission has now received enough donations for eight benches, which Shrestha said are expected to be completed within four to five weeks. The benches will be installed at:
- Eisman’s Beach (two)
- New Ocean Beach (two)
- Phillips Beach (two)
- The overlook by the baseball field at Swampscott Middle School (one)
- The dog park (one)
If additional donors support the Commission on Disability’s initiative, more benches could be added at:
- The dog park (two)
- Eisman’s Beach (one)
- Charles M. Ewing Woods near Swampscott Elementary School (one)
- The baseball field (two)
“It’s good that we have eight though that are going to be going in,” Shrestha said. “That’s really exciting.”
Additionally, Shrestha said Swampscott resident Ted Delano contacted her about wanting to make Preston Beach more accessible. The Harbor and Waterfront Advisory Committee as well as Community and Economic Development Director Marzie Galazka are interested in supporting the efforts, Shrestha said.
“I don’t know what the plan is yet, but they’re going to try to figure out ways to make that beach more accessible, so that may be something we have to work on this summer,” Shrestha said. “That’s something in progress.”
