water wheelchairs

Although many Florida state parks have beach wheelchairs, thanks to a partnership between the Florida State Parks Foundation (floridastateparksfoundation.org) and Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Foundation (preservesurfingbeaches.org) a handful of state parks also have water wheelchairs. Unlike standard beach wheelchairs, the water wheelchairs — also called floating wheelchairs — have buoyant armrests so they can also be taken out into the surf. There’s no charge to use the water wheelchairs at Florida State Parks, but the checkout procedures vary from park to park, so contact the parks directly for more information,

Here’s where you can find the Florida State Park water wheelchairs:

• Deer Lake State Park
  www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/deer-lake-state-park
• William J. ‘Billy Joe’ Rish Recreation Area
  www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/william-j-billy-joe-rish-recreation-area
• Grayton Beach State Park
  www.floridastateparks.org/graytonbeach
• Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
  www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/delnor-wiggins-pass-state-park
• Gasparilla Island State Park
  www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/gasparilla-island-state-park
• Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
  www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/bill-baggs-cape-florida-state-park
• John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
  www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/john-d-macarthur-beach-state-park