Find beach wheelchairs in Massachusetts state parks and enjoy access to the beach and to the water. Beach wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- This page, Beach wheelchairs, is offered by
- Universal Access Program
- Department of Conservation & Recreation
Beach wheelchairs
Here you'll find a list of the many DCR coastal and inland beaches that have beach wheelchairs. You will also see a few parks that have the chairs for use on trails, and pools or spray decks that have chairs for use in the water. There is no cost to use a beach wheelchair, but please be sure to bring your own help to transfer into the chairs. Because these chairs have large balloon tires that you can’t move by hand, you will also need to bring someone to push you. The availability of beach wheelchairs depends on park staff to provide the chair.
Table of Contents
Beach wheelchair use
Beach wheelchairs are designed for use on gentle, sandy terrain. Beach wheelchairs are managed by lifeguards or other park or beach staff. You will need to get in contact with staff to use a beach wheelchair. Try calling in advance or stopping by to talk to staff before you visit the beach. You can also ask on site when you arrive to use the beach.
Conditions on the beach like steepness, debris from storms, rocks, and distance to the water may restrict the use of beach wheelchairs. If there are cobblestones or other obstacles on a beach, you may not be able to get to the edge of the water in the beach chair. Weather and water conditions may also restrict use on the beach, in the water, or both.
Please respect and follow the decisions and directions of lifeguards and park staff while using the chairs.
Sunbathing beach wheelchairs
Sunbathing beach wheelchairs can get you out on the sand to enjoy the beach.
Sand and sunbathing beach wheelchairs are made of PVC pipe. These chairs have a seat belt, a footrest, a beach umbrella holder, and a movable arm for transfer. This style of chair can go across the sand but it can’t go into the water, because the wheels will float and the chair will tip over. If you want to go into the water in a chair, you will need to use a floating beach wheelchair. The weight limit for sunbathing beach wheelchairs is 275 pounds.
Floating beach wheelchairs
Floating beach wheelchairs have three wheels, support for your legs to be stretched out, and floats under the arm rests.
Floating beach wheelchairs let you move across the beach and go into the water. You can lie back with your feet out in front of you, and the chair back is high enough to support your head. These chairs have a chest harness that you should buckle on when you are moving across the beach, a handle in the back so you can be pushed, and a strap in the front to help pull the chair. The bright orange plastic floats under the armrests let the chair float in the water. The weight limit for floating beach wheelchairs is 300 pounds.
Floating chairs can only go into the water in good weather and water conditions. You will need to bring your own Coast Guard-certified personal flotation device and wear it while you are floating in the chair. An adult needs to be responsible for the chair at all times. You will need to bring another person with you to stay close and control the chair while it is in the water.
Boston area beach wheelchair locations
|
Location |
Community |
Sunbathing Chairs |
Floating Chairs |
|
Belmont |
1 |
0 |
|
|
South Boston |
3 |
1 |
|
|
Weymouth |
1 |
0 |
|
|
Waltham |
0 |
1 |
|
|
East Boston |
1 |
1 |
|
| Houghton's Pond, Blue Hills Reservation | Milton | 1 | 1 |
|
Dorchester |
1 |
0 |
|
| Mystic River State Reservation, Shannon Beach | Medford | 1 | 0 |
|
Lynn |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Hull |
3 |
5 |
|
| Olsen Spray Deck | Hyde Park | 1 | 0 |
|
Pleasure Bay Beach |
South Boston |
1 |
1 |
| Quincy Shores Reservation, Wollaston Beach | Quincy | 2 | 0 |
|
Revere |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Spectacle Island Beach |
Boston Harbor |
1 |
1 |
|
Winthrop Shore Reservation, Short Beach |
Winthrop |
1 |
0 |
North region beach wheelchair locations
|
Location |
Community |
Sunbathing Chairs |
Floating Chairs |
|
Bradley Palmer State Park Wading Pool |
Topsfield |
1 |
0 |
|
Breakheart Reservation, John A. Pierce Lake |
Saugus |
1 |
0 |
| Halibut Point State Park, Trails | Rockport | 1 | 0 |
|
Harold Parker State Forest, Berry Pond Day Use Beach |
North Andover |
2 |
0 |
|
Maudslay State Park Trails |
Newburyport |
2 |
0 |
|
Salisbury Beach State Reservation Main Beach |
Salisbury |
9 |
2 |
|
Ipswich |
1 |
0 |
|
|
Concord |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Willard Brook State Forest and Pearl Hill State Park Trails |
Ashby-Townsend |
1 |
0 |
South region beach wheelchair locations
|
Location |
Community |
Sunbathing Chairs |
Floating Chairs |
|
Borderland State Park Trails |
Sharon |
2 |
0 |
|
Demarest Lloyd State Park Beach (This beach has cobblestones. You may not be able to get to the edge of the water.) |
South Dartmouth |
0 |
2 |
|
Fairhaven |
0 |
3 |
|
|
Horseneck Beach State Reservation Main Beach (This beach has cobblestones. You may not be able to get to the edge of the water. Surf conditions don't allow you to go into the water at this beach.) |
Westport |
5 |
3 |
|
Massasoit State Park Campers Beach |
East Taunton |
1 |
0 |
|
Myles Standish State Forest College Pond and Fearing Pond Day Use Area |
Carver |
2 |
0 |
|
Nickerson State Park Beach |
Brewster |
1 |
0 |
|
Sandwich |
3 |
2 |
|
|
Mashpee |
2 |
0 |
|
|
Watson Pond State Park Beach |
Taunton |
1 |
0 |
Central region beach wheelchair locations
|
Location |
Community |
Sunbathing Chairs |
Floating Chairs |
|
Ashland State Park Beach |
Ashland |
1 |
0 |
|
Cochituate State Park Beach |
Natick |
1 |
1 |
|
Douglas State Forest, Wallum Lake Beach |
Douglas |
1 |
0 |
|
Dunn State Park, Dunn Pond Beach |
Gardner |
1 |
1 |
|
Erving State Forest, Laurel Lake Beach |
Erving |
1 |
1 |
|
Hopkinton State Park Main Beach |
Hopkinton |
2 |
1 |
|
Lake Dennison Recreation Area Day Use Beach |
Winchendon |
1 |
1 |
|
Lake Wyola State Park Beach |
Shutesbury |
1 |
1 |
|
Quinsigamond State Park, Regatta Point Beach |
Worcester |
1 |
1 |
West region beach wheelchair locations
|
Location |
Community |
Sunbathing Chairs |
Floating Chairs |
|
Beartown State Forest, Benedict Pond Beach |
Monterey |
1 |
0 |
|
Chicopee |
1 |
1 |
|
|
DAR State Forest Day Use Beach |
Goshen |
1 |
1 |
|
Hampton Ponds State Park, Lamberts Beach & Kingsley Beach |
Westfield |
2 |
1 |
Additional Resources
Open DOCX file, 750.93 KB,
DCR Beach Wheelchair Locations
(English, DOCX 750.93 KB)
Contact for Beach wheelchairs
Fax
(413) 545-5995
Address
PO Box 484, Amherst, MA 01004
| Date published: | September 15, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Last updated: | January 9, 2023 |