Heavy rain showers fell on Logan County Thursday afternoon, Aug. 28, but cleared up just in time for a unique ribbon cutting ceremony on Oldfield Beach, when a new 100-foot mobile walkway was unveiled, which makes the beach area accessible for individuals in wheelchairs or with limited mobility.
2025 Indian Lake High School graduate Taylor Stroud had the honor of being the first person to traverse the Mobi-mat in her wheelchair, with assistance from Melissa Keller.
“This is so nice,” Stroud said, with a wide grin, when she reached the shores of Indian Lake. She had prepped for the special day with a nail appointment just prior to the ceremony.
“I think my friends will enjoy this so much as well.”
The ADA-compliant walkway makes the uneven surface of the sand much easier to navigate. Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities purchased the Mobi-mat though grant funding from the United Way of Logan County
Indian Lake State Park officials were on hand for the celebration as well, and the portable Mobi-mat will be able to be used for other activities and occasions at Indian Lake State Park as well.
Kelli Bader, LCBDD community engagement coordinator, said the Mobi-mat project was one that the agency had eyed for a little while.
“Some of our staff have been on vacation and have spotted Mobi-mats at the beach. We knew we wanted to get a Mobi-mat for use in our county to make the beach accessible here.”
“The Mobi-mat is another way our county is becoming more accessible for people of all abilities,” LCBDD Superintendent Krista Oldiges said. “We are so thankful to the United Way for helping us fund this project.”
Becca Gillis, United Way executive director, said after hearing the proposal for the Mobi-mat, “this is something that our allocations committee latched on to right away.
“I was in touch with the Board of DD here recently, very eager to see when we could come and check out the Mobi-mat.”
Bader noted that the Mobi-mat will be rolled up for the winter months once the weather turns colder, and will be brought back out seasonally at Oldfield Beach.
The United Way grant provided $13,000 for the project, and so far, the LCBDD has spent approximately $7,000 for the Mobi-mat. The remaining funding will likely be used to add a concrete walkway for the short distance from the current sidewalk to where the Mobi-mat begins, or to purchase additional Mobi-mat pieces to connect to the existing sidewalk by the parking lot.
Oldiges explained that this beach-related effort is one of a variety of similar projects that the LCBDD has pursued recently to expand accessibility of various activities to people of all abilities.
Earlier this year, several businesses, including Homegrown Yoga, Gathering Grounds and Buckeye at the Lake each received accessible doors through ARPA funds allocated to the LCBDD and distributed by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities to complete this project.
In addition, last year, an accessible kayak launch was installed at Indian Lake State Park, also funded through the ARPA Grant, the LCBDD superintendent said. A handicap accessible parking spot was also created near the launch to make accessing the launch easier as well.
In recent years, Oldiges said a number of accessible playground projects have been completed in Logan County through partnerships with various community groups, including the Come Play at the Peak Playground at Mary Rutan Park in Bellefontaine, the accessible playground at Fox Island State Park, and playground equipment installed at Lions Park in West Liberty and also in West Mansfield. Another playground equipment project is in the works in Huntsville as well.
