Miami-Dade County Parks to host the free "Paralympic Experience" event at Tropical Park on March 22
(MIAMI, March 6, 2014) — The Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, as a Paralympics Sport Club, in conjunction with several of its local Paralympic partners, will present the “2014 Paralympic Experience” on Saturday, March 22, 2014, at Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40 St., Miami. Registration starts at 9:00 a.m. (at the park’s Boxing Center parking lot) and the event will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Partner agencies for the “2014 Paralympic Experience” include Miami-Dade County, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the Leisure Access Foundation, Achilles International, Spina Bifida South Florida, the City of Miami Parks and Recreation, Playing Through Adaptive Golf Institute, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Miami, Jackson Memorial Rehabilitation Center, and the US Paralympics.
The event, being hosted by Miami-Dade County Parks Disability Services Division, will introduce individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments, including youth, adults and military veterans from across the state, to Paralympic adapted sports. Admission is free and open to the public.
Attendees will have an opportunity to try an array of fun, adapted sports activities, such as:
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Wheelchair Tennis
- Hand-Cycling
- Kayaking
- Golf
- Shot Put
- Discus
- Boccia (A precision ball sport, similar to Bocce)
In addition to hands-on participation in adaptive sports, participants will have an opportunity to interact with Paralympic athletes and coaches. Special guests will include Miami-Dade County Parks’ own Miami Heat Wheels wheelchair basketball team, ranked 6th nationally among the NWBA’s (National Wheelchair Basketball Association) Division III teams.
Advance registration is advised. For more information about Miami-Dade County Parks' Paralympic Experience and Miami-Dade County Parks’ Disability Services programs for individuals with disabilities, the public can call Jody Cox at 305-234-1673, or e-mail her at [email protected].
For directions to Tropical Park, visit Miami-Dade County Parks at www.miamidade.gov/parks.
To stay up to date on all future events, like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/miamidadeparks; and follow us on Twitter @miamidadeparks. You can also see past events on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/miamidadeparks.
The Miami-Dade County Parks Disability Services division promotes the involvement of persons with disabilities in all Miami-Dade County Parks’ services and activities. As both a Paralympic Sports Club and BlazeSports Club they train persons with physical and visual impairments desiring to engage in recreational and competitive adaptive sports.
About US Paralympics:
US Paralympics, a division of the US Olympic Committee, is dedicated to becoming the world leader in the Paralympic sports movement and to promoting excellence in the lives of persons with physical disabilities. Visit the US Paralympics web site at www.usparalympics.org.
About the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department:
Nationally accredited, a three-time winner of the NRPA National Gold Medal Award, winner of the 2013 Florida Governor’s Sustained Excellence Award and the 2009 Florida Governor’s Sterling Award for excellence in management and operations, Miami-Dade County Parks is the third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 260 parks and 12,825 acres of land. It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the world. Made up of more than just playgrounds and athletic fields, it also comprises out-of-school, sports-development, and summer-camp programs; programs for seniors and people with disabilities; educational nature centers and nature preserves; environmental restoration efforts; arts and culture programs and events; the renowned Zoo Miami and the Deering Estate at Cutler; the Crandon Tennis Center, home of the Sony Open; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; pools; and more. For information about Miami-Dade County Parks call 3-1-1, or visit www.miamidade.gov/parks/.
Miami-Dade County Parks is supported by The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade a non-profit 501(c)3 organization supporting the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department’s efforts to further develop Miami-Dade County’s world-class parks system for residents and visitors. Its mission is to create a healthier, more livable and sustainable Miami community by ensuring the implementation of the Parks Open Space Master Plan and the development of year-round park and recreation programs for local children, adults and people with disabilities. For more information on the Parks Foundation, please visit www.liveaparklife.org.
To request material in accessible format, information on access for persons with disabilities, or sign language interpreter services (7 days in advance), call 305-755-7848.