Everyone's invited to participate Peter Igo Park hosts first Adaptive Sports Day

Athletes of all abilities gathered at Peter Igo Park on Saturday, June 9 to participate in the first South Shore Adaptive Sports Day, participating in wheelchair tennis, bocce, rowing and basketball regardless of any disabilities.

The event was sponsored by Adaptive Sports New England, an organization that aims to increase sports participation among disabled people.

Participants and volunteers from multiple area organizations attended, including the Arc of South Norfolk, the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield, the Marshfield High School tennis team and the South Shore YMCA.

The Arc of South Norfolk is dedicated to providing support to people with intellectual or physical disabilities. Dan Burke, the organization's president, was able to bring about 30 participants to the event.

"The philosophy of our organization is inclusion," said Burke. "I'm a proud Marshfield resident, and it's been great to see everyone come out today."

Members of the Green Harbor River Rowing Club helped teach participants how to row and about the equipment needed to participate in the sport.

"We want to include any members of the community who want to row," said Marketta Fritz, a member of the rowing club. "We have people who have participated in the Head of the Charles Regatta, and people who are just learning to row. We'll include everyone."

Peter Igo Park was renovated four years ago to make the area compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and give residents a place to participate in a variety of activities, whether they are disabled or not.

Bud Duksta, who led efforts to revive the park, was pleased with the turnout to the event.

"It's really encouraging that we were able to get so many participants and help from our partner organizations," Duksta said. "We just want people to understand that, whether you're able bodied or not, or any challenges that you might incur, you can still come to the park."

There are plans to install a beach volleyball court at the park in the coming months, and also plan to host more activities in the future.

This was the first event of this nature held at the park, but thanks to the community support for it, Duksta said he is encouraged to hold more events at the park and allow even more people to partake.