Commission applies for state grant to extend boardwalks and buy beach wheelchairs

The Nantucket Commission on Disability said it submitted a grant application to the Massachusetts Office on Disability to extend existing beach boardwalks and to purchase beach wheelchairs. Commission member Brenda told colleagues the plan was to connect an existing 150‑foot boardwalk at Jetties/Galley areas with a new 160‑foot section made from matching material; she said the quoted material cost is about "$120 a foot." She said the package also requests six new beach wheelchairs that float in the water. Why it matters: Extending firm boardwalk surfaces closer to the water and adding beach wheelchairs would expand beach access for people who use mobility devices. Details: Brenda said the proposed extension would match the existing boardwalk material, come in rollable sections for DPW storage, and—if the state grant is approved—could be in place by the following May. The commission expects a decision on the grant application by December. No formal vote was recorded; commissioners reported the grant submission as a staff action taken on the commission’s behalf. Next steps and timeline: The commission will track the grant outcome; if approved, the commission expects DPW and the recreation department to coordinate installation next spring.