**This Monday, the city of Nice launched the “Beaches for All” season. On Carras beach, the infrastructure was presented, followed by a water entry demonstration. A significant change is the renaming of “handiplages” to “Beaches for All,” an evolution towards more inclusivity.**
Under intense heat, the inclusive summer has indeed begun at Carras. On the beach, which has been open for two weeks already, the Nice municipality presented the available facilities, followed by a water entry demonstration. It is the second beach in Nice, after the Centenaire beach, to be equipped with such a system. With a noticeable change from last year: the beach is now under the name “Beach for All.” Although the “handiplages” label remains, Jacques Dejeandile, municipal councilor delegated to disability, wanted to open access to swimming to anyone needing assistance.
### All the equipment available
The primary strength of this beach is, first and foremost, its accessibility. For Guigonis, who is disabled, this Carras beach is a godsend. “In Nice, there are only private beaches with no one to help us get into the water. On these beaches, you’d need to be with a friend, maybe even two, to carry us from the wheelchair to the water, risking a fall on the pebbles. Here, there is all the equipment,” he rejoices.
On-site, a ton of equipment adapted for people with reduced mobility (PMR). Several amphibious chairs allowing access to the water, buoys, and life jackets. “There are the handi beach attendants, the wheelchairs that allow us to get into the water, we have access to showers. We can also change either on the wheelchair, but there is also a place for that. And there are toilets reserved just for the handiplage people,” explains Guigonis. A rope has even been installed to help people enter and exit the water.
Changing rooms, toilets, and showers are also available, adapted for PMR. The novelty this year is the partnership with Vauban Professional High School. “We are a building school, so why not set up these base facilities. There are important challenges, making more ecological and responsible buildings. Practice, technique, and inclusion, it’s a double project for us,” declared Pascal Fournier, the headmaster of the school.
### The Carras beach, a beach for all!
Another novelty is the name change from “handiplage” to “the beach for all.” A renaming desired by Jacques Dejeandile. “For several years, I’ve been looking to change the name of the beaches, not just symbolically, but effectively, it’s a beach for all. We still have the “handiplages” label because we have the equipment, the handi beach attendants, we have it all. But I wanted these beaches to allow older people, who have mobility issues, to come and enjoy the facilities available to them,” he declared.
A beach for everyone, and without reservation! “It’s an open beach, no need to register, no need to make an appointment, to come with a disability card, it’s a beach for everyone,” explained the municipal councilor.
A real asset for Guigonis. “It’s good to have an appointment, but it’s not the principle of the beach. If I have a plan to cancel at the last minute, I can’t go to the beach because I haven’t reserved. At Carras, I can come from Monday to Sunday, holidays included.”
At Carras, the beach now awaits people with reduced mobility. Even with the numerous pebbles, sometimes so bothersome.
