Seaside will join Manzanita and Cannon Beach as the third coastal town with free wheelchair access for visitors.

The program, which will offer wheelchairs to the disabled at no cost through the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District, was inspired by Seaside resident Randy Anderson.

“I would like to propose to the city of Seaside to begin a long-needed service in a ‘free of charge’ beach wheelchair program to help people experiencing mobility disabilities to be able to safely and easily access our beaches,” Anderson said in a June 25 City Council presentation. “Typical wheelchairs and sand do not mix.”

The beach wheelchairs are designed with “fat balloon tires” to provide easy access and mobility on the sand.

“I’ve walked down the Prom and seen people with mobility issues looking out at the beach wishing they could get out there,” Anderson said. “It’s just heartbreaking to see.”

Anderson, whose daughter is a person with a disability, said he is a “huge advocate” for all people experiencing disabilities.

Anderson researched the Cannon Beach wheelchair program initiated in 2017 by the Haystack Rock Awareness Program and the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce.

The chairs may be checked out at Cannon Beach City Hall. Anderson met with outreach coordinator Pooka Rice, who helped initiate the program.

From Jan. 1 through June 18, Cannon Beach has accommodated 84 requests for the use of their wheelchairs, Anderson said.

Anderson brought his concept to Russ Vandenberg, general manager of the Seaside Civic and Convention Center.

With construction underway at the convention center, Anderson’s first choice, storage of the wheelchairs at a city location close to the beach, was impractical.

Vandenberg encouraged Anderson to initiate discussions with Skyler Archibald, executive director of the recreation district.

Archibald saw it as a “good partnership” and brought the proposal to the district’s board of directors for consideration.

When Patrick and Denise Duhachek, owners of Wheel Fun Rentals in Seaside agreed to donate two wheelchairs, the program got an added boost.

The Duhacheks had provided wheelchairs to visitors at no cost through Wheel Fun, but will transfer storage and administration to the district.

The wheelchairs, which run about $1,800 to $2,200 each, will be available for free from the rec district at the Bob Chisholm Center on Avenue A.

“I’m thrilled that they’re going to take it over,” Denise Duhachek said. “But now that they (the wheelchairs) are actually going to leave, it’s kind of sad. We’ve gotten so many letters of gratitude. We’re going to miss the interaction.”

The audience at the June 25 City Council meeting greeted Seaside’s new program with applause.

“I thought it would take some time and I was really pleased how little time it took,” Anderson said after the meeting.

With a council endorsement, Anderson plans to purchase and donate a third wheelchair, he said.

If successful, he said he will apply for grants or solicit donations to expand the program.

The city of Gearhart has shown interest in creating their own wheelchair loan program, he added, with details to be presented at the city’s July 13 council meeting. The effort was also spearheaded by Anderson.

Wheelchairs become available from the rec district this week, Archibald said. “The only challenge we’re working through is our proximity to the beach, which is not as great as it could be.”