Barriers to the beach— what we found!

Cape Cod’s beaches are its prize jewels — but cliffs, dunes, erosion, tides, and endlessly shifting sands create universal access challenges. As the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) turned 35 in July 2025, reporters from Cape Cod News.org and The Enterprise collaborated to explore just how accessible public beaches are, and aren’t — and what is being done to improve access for all.

Our Reporting Team

Karen Hunter

Reporter, The Enterprise

Claire Lazerwitz

Reporter, CapeCodNews.org

Anna Westerberg

Reporter, CapeCodNews

Tao Woolfe

Reporter, The Enterprise

Teresa Martin

Editors/Producer, CapeCodNews.org

John Paradise

Editor/Producer, The Enterprise

Calli Remillard

Editor/Producer, The Enterprise

Doreen Vignue

Editor/Producer, CapeCodNews.org

Investigating the challenges and celebrating the successes — together!

Cape Cod News is collaborating with reporters from The Enterprise to bring you this insightful look into the challenges and possible solutions for people with disabilities to enjoy beaches.

PART 1: Getting to the Beach Isn’t Always Easy

PART 2: Sandwich Boardwalk – a Success Story (Mostly)

PART 3: Rules of the (Accessibility) Road

PART 4: Where the Waves Hit the Beach

PART 5: Accessible Success

Editors Notes

What We’re Hearing About Accessibility – Editorial

Helpful Links

Let us know if there is another topic you’d like for our team to investigate!

Let’s Talk

Let us know if there is another topic you’d like for our team to investigate!

E: capecodnewsorg@gmail.com