From: "Friends of Transit NEWS" To: "Friends of Transit NEWS" Subject: Phoenix Parks and Recreation Offering Additional Accessible Sports Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 9:12 PM Attached is a news release from the City of Phoenix regarding six new accessible outdoor recreation programs. While it is not directly related to transit, many of our readers have a very special interest in accessibility issues, so we thought this might be of interest. Valley residents with disabilities will soon have an opportunity to try a host of new sports. The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, with the help of a U.S. Department of Education grant, is offering six new accessible outdoor recreation programs in the coming months in a new program called Daring Adventures. The program gets under way February 23 from 9 a.m. to noon at a free adaptive cycling open clinic at Rose Mofford Sports Complex, 9833 N. 25th Ave. Staff from the department's Adaptive Recreation Services division will introduce athletes to hand cycles and tandem bicycles. Hand cycles, true to their name, are powered by hand and have three wheels to aid in balance. The tandem bicycles are designed for two riders and are ideal for use by people with visual impairments. At the clinic, participants will have the opportunity to sign up for free adaptive cycling training sessions in March and April where they can gain experience and learn how to check out cycles independently. Volunteers also are needed to ride along with cyclers and to assist participants on and off bikes. Orientation for volunteers will run from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Captains, to ride in the front position on tandem bicycles, also are needed. Volunteers should bring their own bicycles, rollerblades or tandem bikes, if available. Daring Adventures also will offer adaptive kayaking, sled ice hockey, cross-country skiing, hiking, backpacking and wilderness camping. For more information on participating or volunteering in any of these programs, please call 602-262-454. The program is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. River of Dreams, a non-profit agency, also is lending assistance.