Thanks to the addition of two new Mobi-Mats in St. Pete Beach, wheelchair-users and slow walkers can now fully enjoy Pinellas County beaches. Instead of getting stuck in the sand, wheelchair-users can just roll over it on the rubber Mobi-Mats. The mats are also beneficial to people who use canes or walkers, and to folks who tire easily while traversing deep sand.

The new Mobi-Mats, which were installed at Upham Beach and Pass-A-Grille Beach, are the result of a partnership between the Disability Achievement Center, Help Us Gather, The Michael and Robin Lally Forward Foundation and the city of St. Pete Beach. The cost of the Mobi-Mats was just under $20,000, while Northside Engineering in Clearwater donated the engineering design for the project. This brings the number of Mobi-Mats in Pinellas County to 21, according to Jody Armstrong, Director of Outreach at the Disability Achievement Center.

Other Pinellas County Mobi-Mat locations include:

• Gulfport Beach
• Archibald Beach Park
• Indian Rocks Beach
• Treasure Island Beach
• Indian Shores Beach
• Spa Beach
• St. Pete Pier

For more information on Mobi-Mats, visit www.mobi-mat-chair-beach-access-dms.com. And for a complete directory of accessible beaches in Southwest Florida, visit the Help Us Gather website at helpusgather.org/accessiblebeaches/.