Venice Beach Expanding Access At The Sand

VENICE BEACH, CA — Venice Beach will become more accessible to visitors next week, especially for people who might have difficulty crossing the sand.

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors Tuesday will unroll a new access mat near the Venice Boulevard beach parking lot at 2100 Ocean Front Walk.

“One of the great joys of going to the beach is spending time on the sand near the water,” L.A. County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, whose district includes Venice, said in a statement.

“Now, with the use of this new mat, people who have difficulty negotiating the sand can more fully and safely enjoy a glorious day at Venice Beach,” Kuehl said.

The beach access mats are made of fine nylon mesh and are designed for people who use wheelchairs or may otherwise need a firmer surface to traverse the sand. Once installed, the mat will start at the Marvin Braude Bike Trail and end in a “T” shape closer to the water’s edge. The mat will be available annually from around spring through fall.

Semi-permanent mats are part of DBH’s efforts to help everyone visit the iconic beaches across Los Angeles County. The Venice Beach mat will be the eighth. Beach wheelchairs also remain available.

Check out an interactive map of all access mat and beach wheelchair locations: beaches.lacounty.gov/access.

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors manages 25 miles of beaches along the coastline, including Marina del Rey harbor, Zuma, Malibu, Surfrider and Venice beaches. DBH also operates Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey. For more information, visit the website at beaches.lacounty.gov.