Florida state parks get $100K for accessible track chairs

The Florida State Parks Foundation is adding four new track chairs at beaches in Naples, Fort Lauderdale, Panama City Beach and Port St. Joe after a $100,000 grant from Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Foundation. The move expands access to some of Florida’s most popular parks and adds to a partnership that has already put hundreds of thousands of dollars into park accessibility.

Why it matters: - The new track chairs will make four high-traffic Florida beaches more accessible for people with mobility challenges. - The grant expands access at parks that draw visitors to some of the state’s best-known shorelines. - The funding adds to a yearslong effort to improve beach access across Florida’s state park system.

What happened: - The Florida State Parks Foundation announced a $100,000 grant from Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Foundation. - The grant will fund one EcoRover track chair and an accompanying storage trailer at each of four parks: Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park in Fort Lauderdale, St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach and T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park in Port St. Joe. - The announcement came at the end of Disability Pride Month, which is observed each July in the U.S. - July 26 marked the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The details: - Florida Park Service manages more than 100 miles of beaches. - St. Andrews State Park and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park were ranked Nos. 2 and 6 on Stephen “Dr. Beach” Leatherman’s annual list of the best beaches in the U.S. - Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Foundation was founded by Ron DiMenna, founder of Ron Jon Surf Shop, and his wife, Lynne. - The foundation has previously funded accessible beach matting at seven parks, accessible electric trams at three parks, more than 60 beach wheelchairs and 10 floating wheelchairs across the state. - Surfing’s Evolution has also paid for new UTVs and ATVs for park rangers to support marine and beach resource management. - Since 2021, Surfing’s Evolution has contributed $445,000 to Florida’s state parks. - The Florida State Parks Foundation said the grant continues a longtime partnership focused on accessibility and beach preservation.

Between the lines: - The donation suggests accessibility is becoming a core part of how Florida parks compete for visitors, not just a side service. - Putting track chairs at both famous and urban beaches widens the impact beyond a single region or user group. - The timing around Disability Pride Month and the ADA anniversary gives the announcement added visibility and symbolism.

What’s next: - The four parks are expected to receive their new track chairs and storage trailers through the grant. - Surfing’s Evolution and the Florida State Parks Foundation are likely to continue funding accessibility projects at other parks if the partnership holds. - The Florida State Parks Foundation will keep using private support to expand access and sustain park operations.

The bottom line: - The grant turns a longstanding beach-preservation partnership into a direct accessibility upgrade for four of Florida’s most visited state parks.