I am Maddy Grant, I’m 9 years old, and I go to Elmwood. I am writing this letter to convince people that we should make Sandy Beach more accessible to disabled people. It would be better if the beach had special wheelchairs to help people wheel over the sand. Or maybe a ramp would be useful. This way, they could get down the hill carefully to have fun.
People can support this idea by sending letters to the Parks & Recreation Department or raise money to buy the stuff we need to help disabled people to have fun.
— Maddy Grant, Hopkinton
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I want to commend Maddy for writing this and hope Sandy Beach and other spots in town will be more accessible for people with disabilities. Sandy Beach could use designated handicapped spots during beach season but greatly appreciate the work that has gone in there already making it far more accessible than it was when we moved here 30 yrs ago. The ADA playground equipment and the wheelchair accessible loop path about the playground area was a massive improvement. We spend a great deal of time at southern Maine beaches, and several do have the special wheelchairs at the entrance gates for guests to use to access down to the water each season. Maybe having one with the gatekeeper during hours when the beach is open and then locked in the bath house after hours and off season could be an option. Thank you again Maddy for speaking out for the greater good of our community to better service all.