The implementation of universal access was led by Barrio Las Salinas with the support of Fundación Teletón. Made from recycled plastic from the company Revalora, the structure will be located in Playa Los Marineros. In order to build a more inclusive and sustainable city that considers the needs of all, Barrio Las Salinas led the implementation of a ramp that allows people with reduced mobility to access the shore of Playa Los Marineros, in Viña del Mar. The structure is 40 meters long and 1 meter 20 centimeters wide, which means that cars, wheelchairs and people who have difficulty moving on the sand can do so more safely. This universal access path was created with the support of Fundación Teletón, so the ramp has the appropriate measures for its users to be able to use it optimally. Leslie Villalobos, user of the access, commented on how this initiative impacts her daily life. “I was born with a spinal malformation, with myelomeningocele, a congenital disease, so since I was born I have a disability. When I come to the beach I usually come with my family and we don’t bring the chair because it doesn’t work for me on the beach. Today I only came with my two-month-old daughter, who is coming to the beach for the first time, and the ramp feels good, firm and, at least when I have moved here, I have been able to do it by myself without needing help”. Esteban Undurraga, Development Manager of Barrio Las Salinas, indicated that “companies have an important role to play in detecting and supporting the solution of problems that affect citizens today. We firmly believe in generating more inclusive cities that consider all people with each of their particularities. That is why we want to continue contributing to this type of initiatives. In fact, the Barrio Las Salinas proposal that we have opened to the city has this inclusive vision, in which any person in a wheelchair, using a cane or driving a car can move from the hill to the waterfront in comfort and safety”. The materiality of the ramp is composed of recycled plastic and metal rope, which maintain stability on the sand thanks to metal stakes. The construction of the access will be in charge of the company Revalora, which creates different products based on circular economy from recycled plastic. René Lues, councilman of Viña del Mar, highlighted the initiative considering that “the importance is that we have universal access in Viña del Mar for all people who have a physical disability and cannot enjoy the sea and the sand, which are such an important heritage of our city. This effectively brings all people closer to the sea, to the sand, to share the beach and that it is not a restricted, denied or impeded space for them”. For his part, Pablo González, also a councilman of the commune, added that “within the concept of the city that we must build, there must be integration and inclusion, and that starts with providing spaces that allow all people to move freely. This is extremely important because the city must be a democratizing component, and democratization is related to everyone being able to participate.
The beach today is the perfect scenario to illustrate this, because although they are national assets for public use, with free access, which should not be vetoed to some people, systematically what we do is to limit people with disabilities to enter the beach. Therefore, with measures as simple as this walkway, a strip that allows mobility, we make the beach universally accessible (…) I believe that the initiative that all beaches are connected with a walkway or a system of routes that allow people with disabilities to move freely is an idea that should be promoted. The administration of the ramp, as well as its maintenance, will be in charge of the Playa Los Marineros concession, located on Jorge Montt Avenue, in front of the Copec Service Station. The path is divided into 2.5 meter sections to facilitate its installation and is rolled up for storage. The structure will operate from 10:30 am to 8:00 pm, Monday to Sunday, and will be free of charge for users.
