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A long time wish for Asbury Park resident Penelope Gnesin will be made possible through the addition of WaterWheels floating beach chair at city beaches.

The 57-year-old, who has multiple sclerosis, is known for her taking sunrise photos from her North Beach home and enjoys walks along the mile-long boardwalk. But one thing she has been unable to do is access the beach; that is until the municipality partnered with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

“We have joined forces with Asbury Park to bring adaptive equipment to the shore so individuals living with paralysis are able to enjoy a day at the beach with their family and friends,” said Anna Chamberlain, spokeswoman for the Foundation.

The goal, shared by Gnesin, City officials and Foundation members, is to make Asbury Park a model of accessibility that would serve as a guide for other communities. The program’s launch was celebrated last week on the rooftop of the Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten where members of the administration came together with Foundation members, and few notables. 

“We are proud to be partnering with the Reeve Foundation whose goal is to make Asbury Park a model of accessibility, Mayor John Moor said in a written statement. “The City has been working closely with team there for almost a year to make this program a reality. It’s been a true team effort ever since President & CEO Peter Wilderotter and VP of Development Frank Mascia brought this idea to us. We can’t thank the Reeve Foundation enough for choosing Asbury Park to launch this initiative and helping us achieve our shared goal of making Asbury Park more inclusive.”

To date, funding has allowed beach pathways to be installed at the First and Third avenue beach access ramps, Chamberlain said. Temporary panels are being added to the Second, Fifth and Sunset avenue entrances to create transfer decks, off ramps and panels to serve as bridges from the boardwalk.

“We believe that this bold idea would not only present both a challenge to go above and beyond the recommended standards, but also inspire other communities to follow in Asbury Park’s footsteps,” Wilderotter said.

Former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand, who has been a Reeve Foundation supporter since his spinal injury in 2010, visited Asbury Park to support the launch of the event. LeGrand said he has only been on a Jersey Shore beach once since his October 2010 injury that left him paralyzed.”

Foundation ambassador Scott Chesney, whose family traveled to the Jersey Shore every summer, said the trips stopped when at age 15 he sustained a spinal stroke at age 15.

“I can’t think of a better place, based on the revitalization that’s been going on here in Asbury Park, for this to be a launching pad,” Chesney said. “My heaven on earth was the beach. Three weeks out of the year we traveled down to the Jersey shore…mom and dad had to pull you out because you were so wrinkled by the end of the day.”

Chesney said his parents made the decision to no longer expose him to the beach after his paralysis. But during a recent trip with Gnesin, he was able to enjoy the beachfront.

The model community program, funded by a $250,000 Jules L Plangere Jr Family Foundation grant, expands on the Reeve Foundation’s Quality of Life grant program, which provides consultative services and direct resources to small business to expand their accessibility.

This, Gnesin said, is needed. While many of the venues along the Asbury Park boardwalk are handicapped accessible, she said restrooms and some venues in the downtown and across the city remain off limits.

“The enthusiasm and support we’ve received from residents, and visitors, about this program has been inspiring,” said Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn.

City officials said there will be a focus on general accessibility for getting to, from, and around the City of Asbury Park in the months to come.

“This program is a huge benefit for residents and visitors alike, and is a tribute to the ever-growing diversity and acceptance that our City is known for,” Moor said. “We look forward to a long and successful relationship with the Reeve Foundation, and know our work has just started.”

For more details about the equipment, click here.

For more information on the Reeve Foundation, visit christopherreeve.org.

For more information on the City of Asbury Park, visit cityofasburypark.com.

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