Rockaway Beach Chamber Celebrates Ribbon Cutting for Accessibility Project, Barb’s Beach Mobile House May 9th (Video)

Story, Photos & Video by Don Backman

“Work started on the pavers on March 5^th and finished up on April 1^st, Rockaway Beach City Council President Penny Cheek announced to the assembled group at the ribbon cutting ceremony. “Work began on the Wheelchair House on May 1^st and finished up at 11:00 this morning (Thursday May 9th)!”

A large group gathered at the Red Caboose in Rockaway Beach on May 9^th for the Dedication and Ribbon Cutting ceremony. Kristine Hayes, President of the Rockaway Beach Chamber of Commerce Visitors Information Center, and who has volunteered at the Chamber since age 12, led the ceremony.

The Rockaway Beachy Chamber received a $94,000 grant from Travel Oregon for the project. They installed 4.400 square feet of pavers to create an attractive, all-weather walkway over the creek and along the east side and paved the walkways and standing areas on each end. The Chamber, a 70-year-old non-profit, also built a 112 square foot wheelchair house on the north end. This building will house a new Beach Buggy wheelchair, named Matt’s Chair, that will be available for people with disabilities to use as needed.

The wheelchair house is named Barb’s Beach Mobile House to honor the memory of longtime volunteer Barb Kern who repaired the canvas on the old Beach Buggy for 35 years. The structure still needs glass paned double doors installed but is already being used. The storeroom on the first floor will do double duty with Food Roots. While the outside is painted an attractive red, the inside is currently unfinished, so if anyone wants to donate or finish it, the chamber will welcome your call. The small upstairs space is for storage. Contrary to one internet rumor, there isn’t an elevator inside.

President Hayes gave a big thank you to all the agencies, contractors, donors and volunteers that participated in the project. The extensive list shows the amount of support for such projects in a small beach town on the Oregon Coast.

The Rockaway Beach Chamber of Commerce Visitors Information Center has volunteer opportunities available, Hayes explained. “We’re open seven days a week and are trying to add a second shift. A normal shift is only four hours a week!” The Volunteer Coordinators are Karen and Don Riddle. More at info@RockawayBeach.net

After carefully thanking an extensive list of those involved in the project, Rockaway Beach City Council President Penny Cheek and Rockaway Beach Chamber of Commerce President and Rockaway Beach City Councilor Kristine Hayes proceeded to the ribbon draped across the north end where the double doors will be installed. After a few words, Councilor Cheek cut the ribbon.