Perched on the Oregon coastline overlooking the iconic Twin Rocks, seaside town Rockaway Beach has long existed as a multi-generational experience, a seaside escape for toddlers to retirees and all paces of life between.

When Charles McNeilly first ran for mayor in 2022, knocking on doors throughout Rockaway Beach led to conversation after conversation about accessibility. “It was very clear to me from discussions with residents that accessibility was very important,” he says. The community “wanted the outdoors to be accessible to everybody.”

The town’s seven miles of beach is its crown jewel; it makes sense that residents would want to ensure the magic of their tidepools and oceanside sunsets could be enjoyed by all, from families pushing strollers to folks using mobility aids like wheelchairs or walkers.

Several recent accessibility-forward projects have made the beach town even more welcoming:

Last year, the town opened a brand-new Anchor Street Park. Two modern, age-specific playground structures span the ADA-accessible park, bridged by a shaded picnic area. The new paved parking lot and accessible restrooms add ease to the experience; McNeilly often sees families drive into Rockaway Beach from nearby towns just to utilize the playground. “It's been a success beyond my wildest dreams,” McNeilly says. He passes by often on his way to City Hall, kids’ laughter punctuating his walk; “it's just an absolute delight for our community.”

In the corridor between the beach and the lively downtown business district, a joint project between Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad and the town improved the street crossing at South First Street, allowing wheelchairs, strollers, and wagons to navigate the area with greater ease.

The popular Old Growth Cedar Trail gained two new benches along its ADA-compliant boardwalk. Now, visitors who might want a break along the roughly one-mile jaunt to the impressive cedar tree at the hike’s terminus can rest among birdsong and mossy foliage.

As for the beach itself, the town recently improved shoreline access with a concrete, equitable access beach ramp and stairs descending from the town to the sand. Wheelchairs fitted with extra-large, beachgoing wheels are available for borrowing free of charge from Troxel’s Gem and Jewelry Company in adult and child sizes. Also free, a David’s Chair, a motorized track chair, can be checked out for two-hour beach excursions.

The David’s Chair provides a truly one-of-a-kind experience, McNeilly says, as navigating sand with mobility challenges is often otherwise impossible. A David’s Chair might afford folks who haven’t been on the beach in years the ability to “roll around the beach and experience the sea air in their face and the wind blowing their hair and have that incredible outdoor experience.” Grandparents, for example, “can roll along the beach holding their grandchild's hand, and they've never been able to do that.” A fleet of local volunteers meets David’s Chair users at the St. Mary by the Sea parking lot to offer an orientation to the chair’s use, making sure folks get down to the beach safely before exploring on their own.

In the coming months and years, Rockaway Beach has even more plans in the works, including overhauling Lake Lytle with a paved parking lot, ADA-compliant restrooms like the new builds at Anchor Street Park, and eventually a fresh fishing and swimming dock, plus an ADA-compliant kayak launcher.

As the town invests in accessibility, its gems—from the downtown business district to peaceful escapes among nature—get to be enjoyed by more people. Lovers of Rockaway Beach know it’s a special place, one that everyone should be able to experience.