Philadelphia Adaptive Rowing (PAR)
Rowing on the River: Freedom, Strength, and Community
There’s nothing quite like the view of Center City Philadelphia from a scull gliding along the Schuylkill River. With Fairmount Park on one side and the skyline on the other, it’s a powerful place to build strength, confidence, and skill—one stroke at a time.
PAR (Philadelphia Adaptive Rowing) makes that experience possible for athletes with physical disabilities, age 14 and up. From a repurposed boathouse on West River Drive, rowers leave land-based limits behind and discover new ways to move—strongly, smoothly, and fully in control.
We welcome rowers and volunteers at every level. Whether you’ve never touched an oar or you’re eyeing your next race, there’s space for you here. All equipment is provided, and coaches and volunteers fully staff every session. On-water programs run from May through September.
“The first time I left my wheelchair on the dock and took to the water, I felt unstoppable.”
PAR is more than a boathouse—it’s a place where you train hard, laugh often, and meet some of the greatest people in the city.
Competitive Rowing
If racing is your thing, we’re ready for you. Our coaches are former collegiate coaches, National Team members, and National Team coaches—and they bring serious skill and real heart to every training session.
Each season, our rowers compete at every level—from local races to national events and even the Paralympics. We’re proud to host the BAYADA Regatta each September, one of the country’s top adaptive rowing events. You’ll also find us at the Independence Day Regatta, Stotesbury Cup Regatta, the Head of the Schuylkill, and more.
“At PAR, I found a team that lifts each other up. We push, we sweat, we laugh. It’s more than a workout—it’s a family.”
A Legacy of Leadership
PAR is the oldest adaptive rowing program in the world. We helped bring adaptive rowing to the Paralympics—and we’re still leading the way. Our experienced team and smart adaptations keep us pushing forward, together.
Ready to row with us?
Fill out the form below—we’d love to hear from you.
The BAYADA Regatta
The BAYADA Regatta is the oldest and largest all-adaptive rowing competition for athletes with disabilities. An annual event since 1981, the BAYADA Regatta demonstrates BAYADA Home Health Care’s ongoing commitment to adaptive rowing — locally, nationwide, and internationally — and speaks to their dedication to improving the lives of all persons with disabilities.
Held this year on the Cooper River in New Jersey, the regatta attracts adaptive rowing clubs from across the country to participate in recreational rowing races and Para-Rowing races.
The regatta is free of charge and open to the public. Enjoy exciting races, medal ceremonies, and entertainment. Join us to cheer on our PAR racers!
Visit the BAYADA website for all the details.
Three divisions of racing at the BAYADA Regatta
Recreational: 2x, 500m races in Class 1 boats. One able-bodied rower and one adaptive rower.
Composite: 2x, 1000m races in Class 3 racing shells. These are designed to be transitional races for newer rowers. One able-bodied rower and one adaptive rower.
Adaptive: 1x, 2x, and 4+, 1000m races, rowing in Class 3 racing shells. All participants are adaptive rowers. Rowers with visual impairments may have a sighted partner guiding from another boat.
