Penticton beach accessibility assessment

Happy Cities and Meaningful Access Consulting worked with the City of Penticton to assess and improve accessibility across the city’s most-visited beaches. 

Improved accessibility will allow people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the City of Penticton’s beaches. (Happy Cities)

Happy Cities and Meaningful Access Consulting (MAC) worked with the City of Penticton to assess and improve accessibility across the city’s most-visited beaches. The aim is to create a more inclusive and welcoming waterfront that supports people of all ages and abilities.

The project included a review of 29 national and international policies, standards, and best practices for beach accessibility. Our team also engaged the community through a survey, a pop-up at the farmers’ market, a digital session with the Accessibility Committee, and on-site conversations with residents living with disabilities. Finally, we conducted detailed accessibility audits at priority beaches and developed the Beach Accessibility Assessment Tool (BAAT) to evaluate mobility and access, comfort and gathering, hygiene, communication, and safety.

Through this work, we developed recommendations and an implementation strategy to for the City to address accessibility challenges, including short-, medium-, and long-term actions to strengthen beach access, comfort, hygiene facilities, communications, and safety.

The beach accessibility assessment gives the City a clear and practical roadmap to improve accessibility and support inclusive recreation for everyone to enjoy Penticton’s waterfront.