An Eagle Scout Project has made Barrington Beach more accessible for people. 

The project, completed by Barrington resident Quincy Burke, involved constructing an accessible path at the town beach. The path runs from the edge of the parking lot to the middle of the beach, allowing someone with mobility challenges an easier route to the water’s edge. The town beach also features a beach wheelchair that people can access at the bath house. 

Barrington Times — What inspired you to build the accessible beach path? Do you spend a lot of time at the beach? Do you know people with accessibility issues who may have experienced problems getting to the water at the beach?

Quincy Burke — “My grandfather who had difficulty making it onto the beach the last time he visited Barrington was my inspiration for the project. I also saw quite a few different examples of pathways like it across Rhode Island.”

BT — How difficult was the construction of the accessible beach path?

QB — “Construction required over one hundred collective hours of planning and work by scouts, adult volunteers, and town officials.”

BT — Who did you work with at the town to get permission to build the path?

QB — “I worked with Michele Geremia, recreation director, and Colin O'Hara, the town engineer to plan the logistics of the project and its instillation.”

BT — When did you install the path? Did anyone help you?

QB — “The path was installed shortly after the beach officially opened this season, with the help of Jonathan Brady.”

BT — How do you feel about the accessible beach path? Have you seen anyone using it?

QB — “I am ecstatic that the project is now deployed and available to the public. Unfortunately, at the moment I am pretty busy with work to make it down to the beach and see someone using it.”