ANNAPOLIS, MD — Annapolis leaders recently broke ground on a new marina for residents with disabilities.
The $5 million facility will make boating more accessible in Anne Arundel County. The center is currently scheduled to open next spring.
Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating, also known as CRAB, is building the complex on Back Creek. The development will replace the old Port Williams Marina, located at 7040 Bembe Beach Road. CRAB previously docked its vessels at Sandy Point State Park, but the team outgrew those confines.
“We pride ourselves here in Annapolis on being the sailing capital of the world,” District 30A Del. Shaneka Henson said at the groundbreaking ceremony on June 7. “You truly cannot be the sailing capital of the world if you cannot offer that amenity to everyone.”
Racecar bucket seats and harnesses ensure safe sailing. Extended tillers help captains push and pull the rudder.
Another watercraft touts sip-and-puff steering. This mechanism lets boaters who are paralyzed guide the vessel with oral movements detected by a straw.
“We fight for human rights every single day in our jobs,” Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley said. “In Annapolis, getting on the water is a human right.”
The new adaptive boating center will support Crab’s fleet, which also hosts races and clinics.
The 8-foot-wide floating pier will connect to the shore with a 45-foot bridge, allowing golf cart access straight to the vessels. Kayaks, canoes and remote-controlled sailboats will also be available.
Back on land, a pavilion will greet entertainers and summertime picnics. A neighboring educational building will feature 18-foot glass windows overlooking the creek.
A total of 81 solar panels will sit atop the roof and power the 0.86-acre property, which will feature three electric vehicle charging stations.
About 600 trees, bushes and perennials will beautify the complex.
“There’s no limit to what CRAB’s going to be able to do from this center,” CRAB Executive Director Paul Bollinger Jr. told Patch in an exclusive interview last year. “It’s incumbent upon us to ensure that it is the best facility.”
In 2017, CRAB agreed to acquire the property. The group finalized the paperwork three years later. The City of Annapolis officially owns the land, but CRAB leased the plot for 40 years.
Anne Arundel County contributed $1.3 million to the construction, the state gave $1 million and the city committed $500,000.
CRAB has raised about $2 million. The nonprofit wants to raise another $750,000 to overcome rising construction costs and ongoing supply chain issues.
Anybody interested in donating can contact CRAB Director of Development Debbie Daugherty at debbie@crabsailing.org or visit crabsailing.org.
To learn more about CRAB’s mission, read Patch’s full feature story on the organization at this link.
