Miami-Dade County Parks announces National Grant Award for Adaptive Sports Program for Vets
(MIAMI, December 10, 2014) - The Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department’s Disability Services Division recently received a grant award of $22,911 from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under the Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces Program.
The funds will help to increase and expand adaptive sports opportunities for Miami-Dade County Parks’ “COVERT” Program (Connecting the Outdoors with Veterans through Education, Recreation and Training). The program aims to promote lifelong health through regular participation in adaptive sports recreation, which are sports that are created or modified for people with disabilities. Now in its second year, COVERT enables local disabled veterans to enjoy such adaptive sports such as archery, sports shooting (trap/air rifles/pistols), hand-cycling, and swimming.
Miami-Dade County Parks has partnered with therapists from the Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Miami to offer this program primarily to veterans who have spinal cord injuries, amputations, and traumatic head injuries, however, all disabled veterans are welcomed to participate.
NOTE TO NEWS MEDIA: Numerous interview and photo opportunities are available.
Below is a schedule of COVERT sports activities at Miami-Dade County Parks. For more information, the public can contact Jody Cox at (305) 234-1673 or [email protected].
Trap Shooting – Trail Glades Shooting Range
17601 SW 8 St., Miami
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.,
Wednesdays Ongoing through February 2015
Archery – Camp Matecumbe
13841 SW 120 St., Miami
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Tuesdays
March 3 - April 28, 2015; August 4 - September 29, 2015
Hand-Cycling – Locations Vary
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Tuesdays
Ongoing through April 28, 2015
Swimming – A.D. “Doug” Barnes Park - Pool
3701 SW 72 Ave., Miami
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Days Vary
Throughout May 2015
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 active older adults 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 Miami 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.
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