Accessibility mats removed from Cumberland County beach after repeated vandalism
Accessibility mats at a Cumberland County beach have been removed following repeated vandalism, including the destruction of the mats and the sabotaging of park buildings. Local authorities are investigating the incidents, which have rendered the beach less accessible for people with mobility issues.
Why it matters
The destruction of public accessibility infrastructure highlights a growing issue of vandalism in public spaces and its direct impact on inclusivity for disabled individuals.
In an interview with CBC's Information Morning on Tuesday, Natural Resources' regional director for the area said vandals recently ripped up the bright blue mats that help people in wheelchairs access the beach.
"We secure them to the ground with some large aluminum spikes. So [the vandals] took some of these spikes and they drove them into the walls of our buildings," Reg Delorey said.
Delorey said vandals also nailed doors to buildings at the beach shut "so we couldn't get into them." He said the vandalism started with the lifeguard chair being moved around and it escalated once the chair was chained in place.
He said the RCMP were notified but the vandals haven't been caught.
The RCMP confirmed to CBC News in an email that they are investigating the matter.
The integrity of the mats has been compromised because they were torn up, Delorey said.
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