The creation of an accessible beach in Mykolaiv: the project is in place, but no funds

In Mykolaiv, a project for an inclusive beach was conceived even before the war. It was not implemented, but there are now proposals to revisit the issue. It could be developed on Strilka Beach, though funding is required.

This came to light during a meeting of the standing committee on health and social protection on 25 March, NikVesti reports.

As a reminder, at the committee meeting on 26 January, councillors asked the Department of Physical Culture and Sport and the Department of Social Protection to prepare specific proposals for creating an inclusive beach in Mykolaiv, as well as options for potential funding.

At the meeting on 25 March, Iryna Bondarenko, head of the Department of Physical Culture and Sport, reported that a conceptual sketch of the inclusive beach is currently available. It was developed back in 2021 as part of the participatory budget for Strilka beach. However, it does not fully cater for all the needs of people with disabilities: toilets, shower cubicles and changing rooms are required. There are also questions regarding who will oversee all this, and electricity, sewage and water supply systems need to be installed.

According to Iryna Bondarenko, all this requires a considerable amount of money.

«Following the meeting, it was noted that when submitting the proposal to the deputy commission meeting, it should be emphasised that the issue is very valid, but it can only be resolved once hostilities have ceased and funds are available in the budget,» noted the head of the sports department.

She also referred to the words of Roman Vozniak, head of the Department for Emergency Situations and Civil Protection, who stated that the executive committee’s 2022 decision banning recreation at water bodies has not been revoked. Furthermore, there is no shelter on the beach, and its cost, according to Iryna Bondarenko, is around 4 million hryvnias.

However, Serhii Vasylenko, head of the Department of Social Protection, said that there are more opportunities for developing an inclusive beach. He reported alongside Mykolaiv resident Natalia, who won the participatory budgeting project for the beach in 2021.

According to Serhii Vasylenko, it is too early to talk about the beach itself, and only improvements can be discussed. However, there is already a draft plan for the project: the only issue is the allocation of funds. These are not currently budgeted for.

«The only thing, as Iryna Bondarenko said, is that the Emergency Situations Department has stated that if this issue is to be resolved, we need to consider the most basic shelter, a lifeguard post — which is an absolute must — and who will pay for the lifeguards’ work, and how they will operate. We need to consider surveying the water area, which has not yet been carried out. All issues are being resolved,» added Serhii Vasylenko.

Project designer Natalia noted that it involves installing a two-way ramp and a wooden walkway leading to it from the bus stop. The recreational area is designed to accommodate nine people with sun loungers. The sanitary area is to include a toilet connected to the municipal networks and a changing room.

«At this location, which has been discussed with the architect, the municipal enterprise Mykolaiv Parks, and the housing and communal services, there is a structure that is due for demolition, according to the architect. There are already utilities there — electricity and drainage. So, if we can sort out the issue of integrating the structure with the beach, it will make the project much cheaper. We’ll be able to do more than we planned. It’s a very basic structure, costing around 2 million hryvnias,» explained Nataliia.

According to Serhii Vasylenko, Nataliia is looking for community organisations that can provide funding for the project.

«We won’t manage to do this in a year; we all understand that. But we believe that if the war is over by next year, the project would be ready, remarked the director of the Department of Social Protection,» noted Serhii Vasylenko.

In Natalia’s view, the project could serve as a starting point from which both an inclusive playground and a park could be scaled up, following the example of Denmark.

Committee Chair Hanna Nord asked whether they had sought international partners or grants to help implement the project. Natalia replied that such partners do exist, but first and foremost she would like to produce the project documentation using the city budget. This could be submitted to donors, which would facilitate the allocation of funds. This would require around 50–60 thousand hryvnias.

Natalia was asked to prepare proposals for the project. Hanna Nord noted that something needed to be done about it, rather than waiting for the war to end. After all, the number of people with disabilities is growing, and a beach for their recreation would be very useful.

The commission suggested that the Sports Authority and the Social Protection Department prepare information on steps to develop an inclusive beach in Mykolaiv. However, Iryna Bondarenko felt that the Sports Authority had no bearing on this matter. To this, Hanna Nord replied that the Sports Department would be organising sporting events there, so it should also be involved. And, according to Serhii Vasylenko, the Sports Department could assist with the organisation of, for example, a lifeguard station on the beach.

The committee members took note of the information.

It is worth noting that in Odesa, the inclusive «Bezmezh» beach was visited by around 160,000 people in 2025.

In March 2025, work began in Odesa on the restoration of the inclusive beach at the 11th station of Velykyi Fontan. 19.5 million hryvnias were allocated from the city budget for its major renovation and infrastructure refurbishment.

From June to September 2025, residents of Mykolaiv with musculoskeletal disorders were transported free of charge to the inclusive beach in Odesa.