At the ribbon-cutting ceremony are Allen Cohen, Potomac Community Center Advisory Board; Henry Leung, chairman of Friends of Potomac Community Center, Nancy Floreen, County Council president; Sidney Katz, Councilmember, District 3; and Gabe Albornoz, director of Montgomery County Recreation Department. Photo by Deb Stevens.
The transformation was officially recognized on Sunday, April 24. A former unused roller hockey rink at the Potomac Community Center has become the Potomac Adaptive Sports Court.
Montgomery County Recreation Director Gabe Albornoz joined Council President Nancy Floreen and Vice President Roger Berliner at the dedication and ribbon-cutting Ceremony for the Potomac Adaptive Sports Court at 11315 Falls Road.
“Adaptive sports programs help individuals to gain confidence, have fun, and make an impact on their lives,” said Albornoz in a statement. “We are proud of the addition of an adaptive sports court to serve individuals with disabilities in the county.”
Construction on the Sports Court — a former unused roller hockey rink — was completed in late 2015 and cost approximately $250,000. The 75-by-180 foot rink is now a multipurpose court that can support recreational services for individuals with disabilities. A variety of sports activities, most adapted for the population, will be offered at this location. Other provider groups such as Special Olympics, Wounded Warriors, Potomac Community Resources and Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN) may apply for a permit to use the facility for their adapted programs.
“This adaptive sports court is a terrific example of what we can do when residents and government come together in a collaborative and inclusive way,” said Floreen. “What a great addition to our county.”
The Department of Recreation was approached in 2014 to undertake this project by the community-based Friends of Potomac Recreation Center, Inc., along with representatives from a variety of groups supporting individuals with disabilities, among them Special Olympics, Potomac Community Resources and Wounded Warriors. Friends of Potomac Recreation Center, Inc. contributed $25,000 towards the cost of the project.