For some people, recreation is simply what happens after work or school. For others, it can be a way back into a life that has changed dramatically.
In Kentwood, adaptive recreation is built around that idea: that sports, outdoor activities and social connections should remain available to people of all abilities — and that access can sometimes make a much bigger difference than what happens on the playing field.
That work will be celebrated Sept. 10, when the City of Kentwood marks the 10th anniversary of The Vibe, an annual fundraiser supporting its Adaptive Recreation programs. The event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the new Kentwood Community Center.
The milestone is worth noting not simply because The Vibe has been around for a decade, but because of what that decade of fundraising has helped sustain. Kentwood Parks and Recreation offers a wide range of adaptive activities, including archery, bowling, cycling, kayaking, pickleball, rock climbing, skiing, water skiing and social events.
Behind those activities is a network of staff, volunteers, community partners and sponsors working to make participation possible.
For Tara Holliman, Kentwood’s Adaptive Recreation Coordinator, the value of the programs goes beyond the activity itself.
“Adaptive recreation is about so much more than the activity itself,” Holliman said. “It’s about creating opportunities for people to try something new, build confidence, make connections, and recognize what they can do.”
That can look different for every participant. Sometimes it means trying a sport for the first time. Sometimes it means returning to an activity after an injury or life-changing event. And sometimes it is simply having a place where participation does not require an explanation.
This year’s Vibe speaker, Nicholas Deblecourt, knows that last piece particularly well.
Deblecourt experienced a seizure while driving that led to a life-threatening crash, severe burn injuries and, ultimately, an amputation. His recovery required adapting to a new reality, including figuring out new ways to remain active.
He will share that experience at The Vibe, including the role adaptive recreation can play in helping people stay active, connected and confident after life changes.
There is an added connection between Deblecourt and Kentwood: before his accident, he interned with Kentwood Parks & Recreation. A decade into The Vibe, he is returning to the community to tell a story that illustrates why programs like these matter.
The need for adaptive recreation does not end with children, and it does not begin with a particular diagnosis or level of ability. Kentwood’s programs are open to people of all abilities, both in the city and beyond, creating opportunities for kids and adults to participate alongside others and discover activities that work for them.
Much of that work depends on people willing to make it happen.
Volunteers help with programs. Community partners contribute expertise and resources. Sponsors support events and activities. And fundraisers such as The Vibe help pay for equipment and create opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.
Val Romeo, Kentwood’s Parks and Recreation Director, sees the 10th anniversary as a reflection of that collective commitment.
“Reaching the 10th year of The Vibe is an incredible milestone, and it speaks to how much our community values creating opportunities for everyone to participate,” Romeo said.
The Vibe will include dinner, cocktails, live music, a silent auction and adaptive equipment displays, but the evening ultimately points toward something bigger than one night.
It is about keeping the doors open — and making sure there is something on the other side of them.
For the people who rely on adaptive recreation, that can mean a sport, a friendship, a new challenge or a renewed sense of what is possible.
And for a community, it can mean making sure recreation really does have a place for everyone.
