Did someone say beach? Port Stanley ups the beach game with comfort and accessibility

Port Stanley's two beaches are already well-known spots to plunk down in the sand, but now beach-goers are going to see something new on the Lake Erie shoreline.

The first are rubber mobility maps, called Mobi Mats, that make crossing the sand easier for people with mobility issues. They're back again on Main Beach and, for the first time this year, at Little Beache.

"We wondered why there wasn't the same accessibility guaranteed on Little Beach," Chris Phibbs of the Port Stanley Village Association (PSVA) said.  

She's been walking her dog at Little Beach every morning and always stops to ask people what they think. The Mobi Mats are meant to assist people with mobility devices, but they have been popular with everyone, she said. 

"I talked to a grandparent with a kid in a stroller who was thrilled because she could easily get down toward the shore," she said. "I've spoken to a young mom with a couple of kids in a wagon—easy to get down to the shore." 

From high school project to legit business

Over on Main Beach, inspired by the seasides of Europe and a school project, The Lounger Life is back for the season.

The youth-run company rents out blue-and-white lounge chairs, and this year is offering cabanas. 

Twin brothers, Malcolm and Donovan Murray, started The Lounger Life two years ago when they were 16-years old. They'd travelled to Europe and noticed that chair rentals were a standard service on many beaches, but sorely lacking in Canada.

At the time, Donovan was taking a business class at school and this was his idea for a project.

The first year was slow with only a few sales a day, Malcolm said, but since reopening this summer they're selling out nearly every weekend.   

"I'm pretty sure we had the most sales in one day this week," he said. "So there's obviously growth there, and we're super excited for more," he said.  

"It's awesome to see because we've put a lot of time into the business and it's really good to see that people are really enjoying it," he said.

The Lounger Life has 35 cabanas and over 100 lounge chairs in their inventory, and the teenagers now employ six other people to handle the set-up and tear-down. 

The municipality has been very supportive of the business, according to Malcolm. 

"They really like the idea because it makes things a lot more accessible for seniors and people with disabilities, and just general convenience for the public."

The brothers aren't sure yet what the future holds for The Lounger Life, but they expect to be bringing it back for at least the next few years, Malcolm said. 

As for Donovan's Grade 10 business project, Malcolm is pretty sure he scored 100 per cent.