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New Island wide Guide Reviews Accessibility on Martha’s Vineyard Public Beaches

Uncategorized | August 5, 2025

Key Features of the Guide

The Summer 2025 Accessibility Guide to Martha’s Vineyard Public Beaches highlights beaches across all six Island towns and outlines key access features, including:

  • Designated parking areas

  • Routes from parking lots and walkways to the beach and water’s edge

  • Ways to safely enter, experience, and exit the water

  • Availability of accessible restrooms, showers, and other beach facilities

  • Availability of beach wheelchairs and floating chairs

  • Presence of lifeguards

This guide is the first comprehensive resource of its kind for the Island and invites public feedback on visitors’ firsthand experiences using the guide and accessing the beaches.

“Martha’s Vineyard’s beaches are among our greatest treasures, and they should be open to everyone,” said Dick Cohen, Dukes County Associate Commissioner for Access and Inclusion. “This guide helps visitors plan their beach days with confidence.”

Collaborative Effort

Recognizing shared concerns about access barriers at local beaches, several organizations and individuals began meeting in early 2023 to discuss challenges and potential solutions. Their collaboration evolved into an initiative called A Beach Within Reach.

The coalition now includes:

  • Healthy Aging Martha’s Vineyard

  • Dukes County Office of Access and Inclusion

  • CORD (Cape Organization for Rights of the Disabled)

The purpose of A Beach Within Reach is to make Island beaches more accessible for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities.

The initiative included:

  • A comprehensive survey of access features based on current law and best practices, completed by Island Beach Managers

  • Site visits to public beaches by the Associate Commissioner and trained volunteers

  • Collection and analysis of access data and development of recommendations for immediate improvements

“Throughout this process, we consulted with individuals who use wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility devices to ensure our assessments were accurate and practical,” said Cindy Trish, Executive Director, Healthy Aging Martha’s Vineyard. “Their insights were essential in creating a resource that truly reflects on-the-ground conditions.”

Many access improvements highlighted in the guide were already in place, while others resulted from strengthened collaboration between initiative leaders and local Beach Managers.

Beaches Achieving or Making Significant Progress

“While there is still more to do, several beaches have made notable strides in improving access,” said Associate Commissioner Cohen. “We recognized these efforts in the guide by designating nine beaches as either At or Near Fully Accessible or Most Improved.”

At or Near Fully Accessible

  • Inkwell/Pay Beach (Oak Bluffs)

  • North Bluffs Beach (Oak Bluffs)

  • Linda Marinelli Beach (Oak Bluffs, with support from East Chop Beach Club)

  • Menemsha Town Beach (Chilmark)

  • Owen Park Way Beach (Vineyard Haven)

  • Camp Jabberwocky section of Sylvia State Beach (maintained primarily by Camp Jabberwocky)

Most Improved

  • Lucy Vincent Beach (Chilmark)

  • Bend of the Road section of Sylvia State Beach (Edgartown)

  • South Beach at Katama (Edgartown)

Availability and Distribution

The Summer 2025 Accessibility Guide to Martha’s Vineyard Public Beaches is available digitally at:
https://www.hamv.org/accessiblebeaches

Printed versions will be available soon.
The guide will be updated periodically to reflect improvements or changes in access features at Island beaches.

Media Contact:
Dick Cohen, Dukes County Associate Commissioner for Access and Inclusion
Email: racohen65@aol.com

Additional Resources:
Healthy Aging Martha’s Vineyard – www.hamv.org/beach-within-reach