Beach for everyone!
On the 19th of May on Kauguri beach a „Beach for everyone” was opened, and it is the first beach for the people with special needs in Jūrmala!
Action plan for the equipment of such beach was developed under supervision of the head of Health, social, culture and sports committee DzintraHomka and Executive Director of city council Gunta Smalkā.
Jūrmala City Council has provided the descent that is made from a special plank surfacewith small width of spaces, marked with bright yellow wide band to help keep the focus ofarea for the visually impaired, as well as the width is designed for the people in wheelchair to move comfortably, and then go to the locker room that is tailored for the entry in a wheelchair, and is also convenient for all of us.
Tandem bicycles, chess, and special balls that sound when being played – it is the first equipment, so that the active lifestyle is brought to more people with visual impairments. The inventory is purchased by Jūrmala City Council, and soon it will be available free of charge to people presenting identification document.
This is just the first step in adapting the beach for the disabled people. In the future, it will be improved and developed, providing swimming opportunities for people who move in a wheelchair independently and with the help of an assistant, provide special beach benches and loungers, use special water floating buoys that are in tune with a special bracelet that will be placed around a person’s with a visual impairment hand, giving audible signal and providing guidance in the water.
We would like to say a big thanks to our non-government partners who, through their experience and advice involved in the implementation of the project – society “I see”, unity of disabled people and their friends, "Apeirons".
The opening of the beach was attended by Gunta Anča, Chairman of the Boardof Latvia’s people with disabilities Cooperation Organisation “SUSTENTO”, expertin mattersconnected with disabled people, who carried out the first test run, Secretary-General of the Latvian Paralympic Committee AndrisUlmanis, and representatives of Latvia’s Blind Sports Union, which led to the opportunity to enjoy Sheldon game (table tennis for the visually impaired) and a special rock-climbing wall.
Jurmala is one of the world's Healthy Cities that as its priority has chosen public health. Major country’s resort and rehabilitation centres are located in Jūrmala; it is a resort town and welcomes visitors from all Latvia and abroad, and wants everyone to feel comfortable and welcome here.
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