| SPORTS ROUNDUP
By Tom Scott
United Spinal Association joined New York City officials for a ribbon-
cutting ceremony at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, in Queens, NY to introduce a state-of-the-art accessible ice arena.
Home of the 1939 and 1969 World’s Fair, Flushing Meadows Corona Park is comprised of 1,255 acres of athletic fields, landscaped meadows, lakes, fountains, playgrounds, stadia, museums, and a zoo.
The arena, which houses an NHL-size indoor ice hockey rink, is part of a new 110,000 square-foot recreation facility that also includes an aquatics center with an Olympic-size indoor public pool. It is the largest facility of its kind ever built in a New York City park, costing $66.3 million.
“United Spinal Association’s Accessibility Services had the privilege of
working closely with the New York City Parks Department to ensure that this world class arena would be welcoming to all of our City’s residents, including athletes with disabilities who participate in sled hockey,” said Kleo King, senior vice president of Accessibility Services at United Spinal.
“These teams now have a much-needed fully accessible facility in the heart of the City to practice and play their sport.”
Other attendees included Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, Council Member John Liu, Commissioner Matthew Sapolin from the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, World Ice Arena Managing Member Erik Ekstein, and members of Community Board 7.
Bill Hannigan and Victor Calise of the New York Rangers sled hockey team also gave a demonstration of the sport during the day’s festivities.
“Flushing Meadows Corona Park is now the premier athletic destination in Queens thanks to generous allocations of funding from both Mayor Giuliani and Mayor Bloomberg, and from the current and former Borough Presidents, Helen Marshall and Claire Shulman,” said Commissioner Benepe. “With the World Ice Arena, the newly opened Al Oerter Recreation Center across the street, the brand new Aquatics Center, the expanded Billy Jean King USTA, and the new Citi Field, New Yorkers can skate, swim, bike, row, play tennis, watch baseball, play ball and lift weights without ever leaving the park.”
Wheelchair Basketball Heats Up
Seven youth wheelchair basketball teams recently competed in the 4th Annual Junior Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at the Hackensack Middle School in New Jersey. The tournament is hosted by the New Jersey Adaptive Sports Association and the Wheelchair Sports Federation (www.wheelchairsportsfederation.org). Participants included junior wheelchair athletes from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
Scores
Long Island Lightning-30
Long Island Lightning Varsity-43
Jr. Nets Varsity-29
Lady Liberty-25
Katie’s Komets Varsity-35
Jr. Nets Novice-6
Lady Liberty-19
Katie’s Komets Novice-4
Jr. Nets Novice-10
Katie’s Komets Varsity-44
Katie’s Komets-4
Jr. Nets Varsity-38
Katie’s Komets JV-24
Jr. Nets Varsity/Long Island Lightning JV-10
In other wheelchair basketball news, the Minnesota Junior Timberwolves won their second consecutive NWBA Varsity Division national championship, defeating the San Diego Hammer, 51-50. The Charlotte Junior Rollin’ Bobcats squeezed by the Windy City Warriors, 51-47, to win the 2009 NWBA Junior Varsity Division national championship.
Golf Anyone?
Disability shouldn’t prevent you from playing a relaxing round of golf. The Adaptive Golf Foundation of America (AGFA), a nonprofit organization headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, has been offering weekly clinics since 1998, including specialized adaptive golf instruction, life skills, custom equipment, and personal enhancement for individuals with mobility issues of all ages. If you’re interested in getting out on the course or learning how to play, below is a list of chapters that may be close to your residence or vacation destination.
Adaptive Golf of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
River Pines Golf Club
Contact Marc Timson, 678-361-0677
Adaptive Golf of Augusta, Augusta, GA
First Tee of Augusta
Contact Judie Thompson, 706-823-8691
Adaptive Golf of Greenville, Greenville, SC
The Eagle Zone Golf Center
Contact Brad McCay, 864-30-2989
Adaptive Golf of Roanoke, Roanoke, VA
Clinics At Blue Hills Golf Club
Contact Dr. Bill Welborn, 540-798-9205
Adaptive Golf of Tampa, Tampa, FL
Terrace Hill Golf Club
Contact Tampa Coordinator, Ken Juhn, PGA
Golf Shop 813-985-4653 or Cellular 786-326-2719
E-mail: kj4golf@yahoo.com
Adaptive Golf of Sarasota, Sarasota, FL
Rolling Green Golf Club
Contact Director of Golf, David Windsor, PGA
Toll Free 888-364-FLAG (3524)
E-mail: dwindsor@AGFofAmerica.org
AGFA is currently seeking support in creating new chapters nationwide through local veterans’ hospitals. For more information, please visit www.agfofamerica.org, or call 888-364-FLAG.
