WGCU | By Michael Braun,
Andrea Melendez
PublishedJuly 29, 2024 at 9:27 AM EDT
Florida takes pride in its beaches, but some beachgoers with disabilities find enjoying the sandy spaces difficult.
Enter the EcoRover. The powered all-terrain track chair debuted Thursday at Lido Beach in Sarasota County. Jake Brown, ADA coordinator for the city of Sarasota, gave a rundown of the chair:
"I like to think of it as a little tank thanks to its little tracks. It costs about $14,000 total. And this was fully paid and funded. Thanks to people who park in the accessible spaces, those $250 tickets, we do get a third of the revenue from those.”
That $14,000 bought a fully kitted EcoRover with an oxygen tank holder, umbrella holder and other additions to enable greater accessibility. One accessory is an attendant remote control, allowing a companion to walk alongside and control the EcoRover for someone who may not have the use of hands.
The EcoRover, with a frame fabricated in Tampa and assembled in North Port, came about after other disabled beachgoers found that other types of assistance, such as Mobi-mat beach mats, limited them to small areas.
“It’s a more heightened, immersive experience than a Mobi-mat. A Mobi-mat is limited to the length of the mat extended onto the beach. The EcoRover takes you over the sand and close to the wading birds, waves and saltwater air,” Brown said.
Rosemary Krimbel, chair of the city's Citizens with Disabilities Advisory Board, explained how the device came to be:
"The former chair (of the board) ... had a son who was disabled, in a wheelchair. And she used to drive down to Siesta (Key) ... where they have a mat," she said. "But that just pointed out to her son that he was disabled because he was contained on this mat."
The Citizens with Disabilities board, appointed by the City Commission, decided to eschew the Mobi-mat, researched the EcoRover and approved its purchase to enhance Lido Beach access.
"The one thing that we should all be most proud of in Sarasota and Florida are our beaches. So now you can enjoy the beach the same way anybody else can. So we're very happy to have the EcoRover," Krimbel said."
Based in Sarasota County, EcoRover Chairs was founded by Cordell Jeter, a college football player who became a T-12 paraplegic after a car crash. Four years later, he won a bronze medal in the 800-meter race and a gold medal in the 4x400 relay race at the 1992 Paralympics in Barcelona.
1 of 11 —EcoRover WGCU 1
Citizens with Disabilities Advisory Board and City of Sarasota ADA, purchased a beach-friendly accessibility chair called EcoRover. This chair promotes independence for individuals with disabilities and is now available for public use at Lido Beach at no cost. The EcoRover is an electric hand-controlled wheelchair with all-terrain tread that can easily traverse sand allowing for independent enjoyment of beautiful Lido Beach. EcoRover Chairs was founded by Cordell Jeter. They are fabricated in Tampa and assembled in North Port. The $14,000 vehicle was funded through handicap parking violation fines.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
2 of 11 —EcoRover WGCU 7
The EcoRover is an electric hand-controlled wheelchair with all-terrain tread that can easily traverse sand allowing for independent enjoyment of Lido Beach.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
3 of 11 —EcoRover WGCU 2
The EcoRover is an electric hand-controlled wheelchair with all-terrain tread that can easily traverse sand allowing for independent enjoyment of Lido Beach.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
4 of 11 —EcoRover WGCU 3
The EcoRover is an electric hand-controlled wheelchair with all-terrain tread that can easily traverse sand allowing for independent enjoyment of Lido Beach.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
5 of 11 —EcoRover WGCU 8
Jake Brown, ADA Coordinator for the City of Sarasota, demonstrates how the EcoRover works. .Citizens with Disabilities Advisory Board and City of Sarasota ADA, purchased a beach-friendly accessibility chair called EcoRover. This chair promotes independence for individuals with disabilities and is now available for public use at Lido Beach at no cost. The EcoRover is an electric hand-controlled wheelchair with all-terrain tread that can easily traverse sand allowing for independent enjoyment of beautiful Lido Beach. EcoRover Chairs was founded by Cordell Jeter. They are fabricated in Tampa and assembled in North Port. The $14,000 vehicle was funded through handicap parking violation fines.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
6 of 11 —EcoRover WGCU 10
Jake Brown, ADA Coordinator for the City of Sarasota, demonstrates how the EcoRover works. .Citizens with Disabilities Advisory Board and City of Sarasota ADA, purchased a beach-friendly accessibility chair called EcoRover. This chair promotes independence for individuals with disabilities and is now available for public use at Lido Beach at no cost. The EcoRover is an electric hand-controlled wheelchair with all-terrain tread that can easily traverse sand allowing for independent enjoyment of beautiful Lido Beach. EcoRover Chairs was founded by Cordell Jeter. They are fabricated in Tampa and assembled in North Port. The $14,000 vehicle was funded through handicap parking violation fines.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
7 of 11 —EcoRover WGCU 4
Jake Brown, ADA Coordinator for the City of Sarasota, demonstrates how the EcoRover works. .Citizens with Disabilities Advisory Board and City of Sarasota ADA, purchased a beach-friendly accessibility chair called EcoRover. This chair promotes independence for individuals with disabilities and is now available for public use at Lido Beach at no cost. The EcoRover is an electric hand-controlled wheelchair with all-terrain tread that can easily traverse sand allowing for independent enjoyment of beautiful Lido Beach. EcoRover Chairs was founded by Cordell Jeter. They are fabricated in Tampa and assembled in North Port. The $14,000 vehicle was funded through handicap parking violation fines.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
8 of 11 —EcoRover WGCU 5
Jake Brown, ADA Coordinator for the City of Sarasota, demonstrates how the EcoRover works. .Citizens with Disabilities Advisory Board and City of Sarasota ADA, purchased a beach-friendly accessibility chair called EcoRover. This chair promotes independence for individuals with disabilities and is now available for public use at Lido Beach at no cost. The EcoRover is an electric hand-controlled wheelchair with all-terrain tread that can easily traverse sand allowing for independent enjoyment of beautiful Lido Beach. EcoRover Chairs was founded by Cordell Jeter. They are fabricated in Tampa and assembled in North Port. The $14,000 vehicle was funded through handicap parking violation fines.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
9 of 11 —EcoRover WGCU 6
Jake Brown, ADA Coordinator for the City of Sarasota, demonstrates how the EcoRover works. .Citizens with Disabilities Advisory Board and City of Sarasota ADA, purchased a beach-friendly accessibility chair called EcoRover. This chair promotes independence for individuals with disabilities and is now available for public use at Lido Beach at no cost. The EcoRover is an electric hand-controlled wheelchair with all-terrain tread that can easily traverse sand allowing for independent enjoyment of beautiful Lido Beach. EcoRover Chairs was founded by Cordell Jeter. They are fabricated in Tampa and assembled in North Port. The $14,000 vehicle was funded through handicap parking violation fines.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
10 of 11 —EcoRover WGCU 11
Citizens with Disabilities Advisory Board and City of Sarasota ADA, purchased a beach-friendly accessibility chair called EcoRover. This chair promotes independence for individuals with disabilities and is now available for public use at Lido Beach at no cost. The EcoRover is an electric hand-controlled wheelchair with all-terrain tread that can easily traverse sand allowing for independent enjoyment of beautiful Lido Beach. EcoRover Chairs was founded by Cordell Jeter. They are fabricated in Tampa and assembled in North Port. The $14,000 vehicle was funded through handicap parking violation fines.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
11 of 11 —EcoRover WGCU 9
Citizens with Disabilities Advisory Board and City of Sarasota ADA, purchased a beach-friendly accessibility chair called EcoRover. This chair promotes independence for individuals with disabilities and is now available for public use at Lido Beach at no cost. The EcoRover is an electric hand-controlled wheelchair with all-terrain tread that can easily traverse sand allowing for independent enjoyment of beautiful Lido Beach. EcoRover Chairs was founded by Cordell Jeter. They are fabricated in Tampa and assembled in North Port. The $14,000 vehicle was funded through handicap parking violation fines.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
Reserving the EcoRover
- The EcoRover can be reserved at no cost for up to four hours.
- Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance.
- Those interested in reserving can emailJake.Brown@sarasotafl.govor call (941) 263-6476.
- Prior to using the EcoRover, an individual will be required to watch a brief safety tutorial video and sign a usage waiver.
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