BlazeSports Clubs expanding - Tip-Off

Parks & Recreation, May, 2003

Recreation opportunities for people with disabilities continue to grow nationwide, thanks in large part to the U.S. Disabled Athletes Fund and NRPA members. Together, these groups have developed BlazeSports Clubs of America, a comprehensive sports and fitness program for children and adults with physical disabilities. Eleven more communities have been selected to develop clubs, according to Mike Mushett, vice president of USDAF programs.

"Based on the quality of this year's applicants, coupled with the fact that we only selected nine sites in 2002, we decided to select 11 new club sites for 2003 to bring our total to 20 national club sites," he says.

New BlazeSports Clubs will be developed in San Jose Park and Recreation and Neighborhood Services; Colorado Sports for the Physically Challenged in Lakewood; National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D.C.; Daytona Beach Department of Leisure Services; Western DuPage Special Recreation Association in Carol Stream, Ill.; Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago; Rockford Park District in Rockford, Ill.; Kentwood Parks & Recreation Department in Kentwood, Mich.; Gulfport Department of Leisure Services, Gulfport, Miss.; Chattanooga Parks, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Chattanooga, Tenn.; and the Pasadena Parks and Recreation Department in Pasadena, Texas. Existing programs operate in Georgia, Texas, Nevada, Florida, Oklahoma, Illinois and Virginia.

The national program was launched in March 2002 in conjunction with the 2002 Winter Paralympic Games. Paralympic athletes, coaches and other nationally ranked disabled athletes are an integral component in all BlazeSports programs. Serving as coaches and counselors to beginning or rising athletes, these elite athletes bring a high level of experience and knowledge to program participants, and they provide excellent role models and mentors to BlazeSports participants.

NRPA partners with BlazeSports to provide community-based programs, including wheelchair tennis, basketball, racing, rugby and swimming. It's anticipated that as programs are formed in locations where winter sports are appropriate, these will be added.

For more information about BlazeSports, contact NRPA Sports Manager Raymond Harris at programs@nrpa.org or go to www.blazesports.com.