Piers Park Sailing Center

Piers Park Sailing Center

The Center's sailboats docked in Boston Harbor
Motto Outreach to at-risk youth, Empowerment for people with disabilities and Adventure for everyone to become a part of the natural environment.
Founded 1995
Type Educational non-profit
Location
Coordinates 42°21′53″N 71°02′16″W / 42.364829°N 71.037786°W / 42.364829; -71.037786Coordinates: 42°21′53″N 71°02′16″W / 42.364829°N 71.037786°W / 42.364829; -71.037786
Mission To provide affordable recreational, educational and personal growth opportunities for people of all ages and abilities through sailing.
Website piersparksailing.org

Piers Park Sailing Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community sailing organization located at 95 Marginal Street in East Boston, Massachusetts. The sailing center utilizes Boston Harbor and offers programs for a variety of ages and skill levels.

Piers Park, with the downtown Boston skyline in the distance

History

Piers Park, located in the Jeffries Point district of East Boston, was constructed by the Massachusetts Port Authority in 1995 to allow residents access to the waterfront. Designed by Pressley Associates Landscape Architects, the park incorporates historic seawalls dating from 1870.[1] The facility for the sailing center was constructed shortly thereafter, but its sailing programs did not begin until 1997.[2]

Funding for the sailing center came primarily from MassPort; however after the September 11, 2001 attacks, they dropped funding and the center has since relied on grants and nominal funds raised through the adult program. The center retains the property through an extended $1 lease from MassPort, who also donated the sailing center's fleet of ten 23-foot Sonar keelboats.

Programs

Youth - With an enrollment of approximately 400 children, the Youth program is the largest program at the Center. The program consists of a morning session for novice students and an afternoon session for advanced students. There are a total of ten sessions over the summer season. Each Friday, the program brings a group of about sixty students out to a Boston Harbor Island.

Adult - The Adult program allows members to reserve boats for sailing with family and friends. The program includes a "Learn to Sail" course for adults. The curriculum is taught in seven classes by certified US Sailing instructors. Upon completion of the course, each student is evaluated and granted both membership and a US Sailing keelboat certification.

Adaptive - The Adaptive program provides lessons for handicapped students of all ages. The instructors use equipment to adapt the boats for the needs of each individual student.

Racing - The Racing program hosts weekly racing events. The sailing center also hosts a number of regattas.

Coastal - The Coastal program allows members to reserve small cruising boats for personal use.

References

  1. ↑ Martin, Kaki, ASLA. "East Boston: Piers Park." The Landscape Architect's Guide to Boston, American Society of Landscape Architects, 2016.
  2. ↑ MASSPORT: Pressroom, June 16, 2006, Massport Teams Up with Piers Park...
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