Boxford awarded $75,000 Municipal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Grant for New Docks at Stiles Pond Beach

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Boxford awarded $75,000 Municipal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Grant for New Docks at Stiles Pond Beach

Boxford, MA - (April 11, 2024) - The Town of Boxford is pleased to announce that it was recently awarded a $75,000 Municipal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Grant for new ADA-accessible docks at Stiles Pond Beach. The grant program, run by the Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD), supports capital improvements specifically dedicated to improving programmatic access and/or removing barriers encountered by persons with disabilities in applicant facilities throughout the Commonwealth.

The new docks will replace the existing “I” shaped docks at Stiles Pond Beach and will have the following ADA-compliant features:

• Railings, which allow for use of the docks by those that use wheelchairs or deal with mobility impairments;
• A 10-foot ramp at the entrance to each dock to allow for easy access to the docks for those that use wheelchairs or deal with mobility impairments;
• Swim ladders to ensure access to the water for those that use wheelchairs or deal with mobility impairments; and
• ADA curbing around the new, square floating dock to allow for use of the floating dock by those that use wheelchairs or deal with mobility impairments.

“We are excited that the Town was able to secure this grant funding to make important improvements to the swimming area at Stiles Pond Beach,” said Josilyn DeMarco, former Boxford Athletic Association (BAA) President and former Stiles Pond Beach Director, who worked closely with the Town on the grant application. “These new docks will greatly expand access to the waterfront for children of all abilities.”

“The Town of Boxford is fully committed to ensuring that all of its facilities are ADA-compliant,” said Town Administrator Matt Coogan. “This grant funding is an essential component that enables the Town to meet that commitment. We thank the Commonwealth for its support and we specifically thank State Senator Bruce Tarr and his staff for their work assisting Boxford in accessing this grant funding and their advocacy on behalf of the Town’s needs.”

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Contact: Matt Coogan, Town Administrator
mcoogan@boxfordma.gov