2023 was the trial year for CITY PADDLES – an urban youth canoe and kayak program that has been in the works for several years. With the political and monetary support of our Hartford City Council, the program finally got started in collaboration with our partners at the Friends of Keney Park.
Moreso than their suburban counterparts, Hartford’s inner-city youth have become disconnected from not being outdoors or having the ability to quickly drive somewhere and be in the midst of nature. One expert has claimed such children are suffering from “nature deficit disorder.” Instead of spending endless hours on playgrounds, riding bikes or climbing trees – i.e. being kids – they are inside playing video games, scrolling on a phone, watching TV and texting.
In wealthier suburbs across the state of Connecticut, children have greater access to boating and paddle-related recreation. In the capital city of Hartford, there hasn’t been youth paddling in over 25 years (except for paddle boats with pedals) and a limited boat builder program. Most urban recreation programming is understandably anchored around neighborhood centers, school and park playgrounds, ball fields or courts – to ensure safety versus playing in dangerous city roadways.
CITY PADDLES founders Tim Sullivan and Alyssa Peterson sought to diversify traditional summer camp programming once a week with experiential activities that had never been provided relative to paddle sports. Our first group came from Parker Memorial Recreation Center in North Hartford.
The kids were full of spirit, varied in age, and ranged in skill beginning with those who had never been inside a canoe or kayak or other boat. It was truly amazing to watch 95% of them take to the water so willingly and exhibit little fear. Except for the occasional harmless spider hiding in a boat, which scared them most! All quickly learned how to spot bottles or cans or trash needing to be scooped out (our newest environmental stewards) and we can still hear the oohs and aahs upon discovery of a giant goose egg or trying to catch up to an elegant egret.
