How Green Lake Community Boathouse Makes Rowing Accessible for All

I’ve been a rower for more than 30 years. I became enthralled with the sport while watching rowers glide along the water in sleek rowing shells as I ran around Green Lake in Seattle. I took a Learn to Row class with Seattle Parks and Recreation, and then I was hooked! Luckily, as I age, there is still a way for me to participate and enjoy the feeling of being on the water and getting a great aerobic workout. The people I row with now range in age from 45 to 81. But what about people who have a disability or mobility issue that presents challenges in getting in a boat or executing the rowing stroke?

The United States Rowing Association (USRA) encourages rowing programs to provide support for people who are neurodivergent or have physical or intellectual disabilities. These include modifications in both equipment to make it more stable, and the way rowing is communicated and coached. It gives these athletes the chance to be on the water, join a team, and compete with other rowers at rowing regattas. We have probably all heard of and seen some of the events in the Paralympic Games which occur every 4 years in the same host cities as the Olympic Games. Rowing is one of the most adaptable sports in the array of those offered at the Paralympics, and there are some great examples of people with disabilities rowing at a highly competitive level.

One example of an adaptive rowing program is available locally. Green Lake Community Boat House, which is part of the City of Seattle Parks and Recreation department, launched their new adaptive rowing program this summer that focuses on giving adults with disabilities the opportunity to learn to row. Green Lake Adaptive Rowing (GLAR) rowers use specially equipped rowing shells and other accommodations tailored to their needs. The program uses volunteers to help the new rowers. Volunteers launch the boats, row with rowers to ensure the boat is balanced, and model the rowing stroke. These adaptive rowing athletes are building muscle strength, cardiac health, increased range of motion, confidence, and new skills with every session—and having an absolute blast along the way. The volunteers who participate in GLAR also benefit by helping new rowers to have the opportunity to be included in a sport that in the past was not available to them. USRA asserts that rowing is a sport for all, and there truly is a seat in the boat for everyone.

What does this mean to the rowers in the program? One rower began the program this summer as a brand-new athlete. They are enjoying getting in a shell with eight others to experience what the lake, rowing and other athletes have to offer. Connections extend beyond the water to the weekly post-row donut social. Another rower returned to rowing after being a competitive rower in their category at a regatta and offered an example of success to others.

For more information about the GLAR, you can contact the Green Lake Community Boat House office at 206-684-4074 or greenlake@seattle.gov

Contributor Alex O’Reilly chairs the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services. She welcomes input from readers via email (advisorychair@agewisekingcounty.org).