Bowling Green and Warren County Parks and Recreation departments partner for adaptive sports expansion

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – Adaptive sports programs are breaking barriers and bringing communities together by offering athletes with disabilities new opportunities to compete and grow.

Bowling Green Parks and Recreation has partnered with Warren County Parks and Recreation to expand their adaptive sports program.

“Our goal was to expand what was at the time, the special populations division,” BGPR Recreation Division Manager Cameron Levis said.

Focused on Special Olympics programming, the expansion would include adaptive or para-sports and focus on those with physical disabilities.

In 2016, the first adaptive sports program in Bowling Green included wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis and a sport called goal ball.

The addition of more sports through the years led BGPR to enter a partnership with WCPR to create adaptive water and winter sports programs.

“About 3 or 4 years ago, we partnered with the Bowling Green City Parks and Rec and they were able to purchase the equipment through a grant and we had all of the water access points along the river and so we got together and we formed this amazing watersports program,” WCPR Special Projects Manager Leah Spurlin said.

By providing these specialized programs, sports and other outdoor activities are more accessible to all.

“Both the city and the county’s parks and recreation departments are committed in ensuring that all patrons in Warren County and surrounding counties have an opportunity to get out and experience these different adaptive sports, whether it’s on the water or in the gym. Wherever it may be,” Spurlin said.

“Ultimately, what we want to do is we want to focus on what somebody’s abilities are. We want to focus on what somebody can do instead of what they can’t,” said Levis.

The expansion also aims to build a stronger, more inclusive community.

“There really is no better catalyst for creating more social inclusion and more acceptance of people with disabilities than sport and recreation,” Levis said. “When the community is able to see individuals with disabilities participating in sport; doing the things that society would often do that they’re not able to do, that’s when we really start to shift perspectives.”

The programming will kick off in September, including a River Party at Phil Moore Park on Sept. 15 at Drake’s Creek.

BGPR and WCPR hope that one day their adaptive sports program becomes one of the best in the state, giving individuals with disabilities an opportunity to pursue recreation and a competitive edge when it comes to sports.

Anyone interested in joining the adaptive sports program can email madison.duncan@bgky.org or call Kummer Little Recreation Center at 270-393-3484.

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