from Staff reports
In June, nonprofit organization Waymaker Offroad Wheelchairs donated an all-terrain wheelchair to the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC). The chair is available for reservation on a first-come, first-served basis at Folly Beach County Park.
The Waymaker chair is a Nomad All-Terrain electric powered chair that allows the user to navigate the sand and other areas of the beach park. Guests can reserve Folly Beach County Park’s off-road wheelchair on the Waymaker website at: https://www.waymakeroffroadwheelchairs.com/folly-beach.
“CCPRC is thrilled to partner with Waymaker Offroad Wheelchairs to provide a powered, all-terrain beach wheelchair available at Folly Beach County Park,” said Steve Hutton, CCPRC’s chief operating officer and ADA coordinator. “This new chair will allow customers with mobility impairments to access the beach independently. Improving accessibility throughout our park system is one of our core values, and the addition of this Nomad All-Terrain powered wheelchair helps us meet that goal and continue to better serve our visitors with disabilities.”
Based in Hartsville, SC, Waymaker Offroad Wheelchairs is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people with mobility impairments enjoy outdoor experiences with independence. The organization provides free access to all-terrain wheelchairs at various state parks and other locations throughout South Carolina. Waymaker donated the chair free of charge to CCPRC so that beachgoers could use it at Folly Beach County Park. For more information on the organization and other sites with chairs available for use, visit their website at waymakeroffroadwheelchairs.com.
Reservations for the Waymaker chair are on a first-come, first-served basis. CCPRC recommends that guests reserving the chair do so in advance and arrive early to the park on the day of their reservation, as beach parking may reach capacity on weekends and holidays during the peak season. After making their online reservation and completing an online video training on use of the chair, guests should show their confirmation email at the park office to pick up the chair. Chair reservations do not include park admission fees.
Folly Beach County Park is currently the only CCPRC park with a Waymaker off-road wheelchair. However, standard TerraWheels beach wheelchairs are also available for checkout at all CCPRC beach parks: Isle of Palms County Park, Kiawah Beachwalker Park, the Folly Beach Pier and at Folly Beach County Park. These beach wheelchairs were purchased in Spring 2024 through a grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. They may be checked out in person by visiting the park office upon arrival.
For more information on accessibility at Folly Beach County Park, visit https://www.ccprc.com/3752/Accessibility-in-the-Park. Also visit Charleston County Parks’ accessibility webpage at www.ccprc.com/ADA. For hours and contact information for the parks, please visit CharlestonCountyParks.com.
