BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — Boca Raton’s South Inlet Park is now part of a countywide push to make the beach easier to reach for more people, including residents and visitors with mobility challenges.
The Parks Foundation of Palm Beach County, Inc., working with Florida Power & Light and the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department, marked the launch of a “Beach Access Mat Project” with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Ocean Reef Park.
The project centers on something simple that can change how a beach day starts: temporary-style mats laid across sand to create a firmer, safer path. The goal is to improve ADA accessibility and reduce the physical barrier that soft sand can create, not only for wheelchair users, but also for families pushing strollers and older visitors who may struggle walking through uneven terrain.
Five new beach access mats were installed as part of the initial rollout. The Parks Foundation said mats are now in place at DuBois Park, Ocean Cay Park, Ocean Reef Park, Phil Foster Park, and South Inlet Park.
For Boca Raton, that means South Inlet Park — a busy coastal destination at the southern end of the city — now has a more defined route across the sand for people who previously faced a tougher walk to the waterline. The mat is intended to provide a steadier surface and a clearer path, especially on days when the sand is deep, shifting, or packed with foot traffic.
County officials framed the project as a public-private partnership aimed at widening access to the beach experience, not just adding another amenity. Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Cirillo said the effort reflects what can happen when public agencies and private partners align around a shared goal, describing it as a way to help more people experience the county’s shoreline and park system.
Parks Foundation President John J. Gorski said the foundation matched the donation provided by Florida Power & Light to carry out the beach mat installations, calling the effort a partnership between the foundation, corporate donors, and the county parks department to improve access for people who otherwise might not get to experience the parks in the same way.
From FPL’s side, External Affairs Manager Amy Kemp described the mats as a safety and access improvement, saying the installation is about opening the beach to more members of the community.
The work is not stopping with the first five parks. Plans are in place to install additional mats at Ocean Inlet Park on the lagoon side and at Jupiter Beach Park. The stated intent is to keep expanding the number of beach locations across Palm Beach County where getting from the boardwalk or entry point to the shoreline is less of a physical obstacle.
The ribbon cutting was held at Ocean Reef Park, which is operated by the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department. The county describes its parks system as nationally accredited and focused on recreation management, with programs and services for people of all ages and abilities.
For Boca Raton residents, the practical takeaway is at South Inlet Park: a new, more stable crossing over sand designed for easier movement to and from the beach. For visitors coming in from elsewhere in the county, the project creates a more consistent experience across multiple destinations, with mats now placed at parks stretching from the northern end of the county down to Boca Raton.
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