Gateway to Biscayne Bay

by Thaddeus Foote on June 01, 2009 at 07:35AM

“Bright, nameless great bay… and fresh springs in the rocks.” Almost five hundred years ago, Juan Ponce de Leon used these words to describe a magical, marine haven which offered hope, opportunity and life to weary explorers. Tequesta natives fished this watery wonderland for millennia. Early settlers found work and play upon these abundant shallows. A great city was born and we call our back yard, Biscayne Bay.

Today, Biscayne Bay continues to inspire us and fuel our active and adventurous souls. Although public access to the Bay is limited, one constant and non-private gem remains open and accessible to all. Shake-A-Leg Miami (SALM) is a community water-sports center located in Miami's Coconut Grove. For more information, go to www.shakealegmiami.org. As the “gateway to Biscayne Bay”, Shake-A-Leg Miami is literally and metaphorically, where “boats and dreams are launched.”

©rumbum.com, Thaddeus Foote/Shake a Leg Shake-A-Leg Miami began eighteen years ago as a sailing center for disabled athletes. The name, “Shake-A-Leg”, refers to the attitude that “even if you can’t move your legs or don’t have any, you can get up, do something with your life and ‘shake-a-leg.’” Thousands of friends, guests and intrepid souls, of ALL abilities, roll and walk upon the floating docks at Shake-A-Leg every year. People from all corners of Miami, the country and the world come to learn, share and compete. Anyone with interest may learn to sail, kayak or drive a powerboat. Students may explore local ecology on the outrigger canoe and document their findings in the video lab. They might learn to restore a classic sailboat or compete in “Wednesday night racing” series. One may partake in the “Shake Shootout” offshore fishing tournament or explore disabled athletic sports and innovations at the “No Barriers Festival” (June 4-7, 2009). Although the possibilities are endless at Shake-A-Leg Miami, one common and powerful theme abounds… Biscayne Bay.

From historic to contemporary times and from work to play, Biscayne Bay has given us what all life needs, water. It heals us. It fuels us. It equalizes us. Whether adult or child, able-bodied or disabled does not matter. “Water them and watch them grow.”