Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) was founded on the principle that people with disabilities can and should be able to live fulfilling and joyful lives and have equitable access to meaningful therapeutic recreation. With a mission to bring the therapeutic value of sailing to those with disabilities, recovering veterans, and youth from underprivileged backgrounds, CRAB’s work has much in alignment with Nature Sacred’s.
CRAB’s new Adaptive Boating Center, located in the Back Creek area of Annapolis, MD, incorporates expanded parking, a pavilion, native plantings, and a beautiful view of the water — and will be the home of a Sacred Place. This Sacred Place will be a site for visitors to the site, primarily CRAB’s guests as well as staff and volunteers at the site. Its location is one that balances activity and reflection, allowing visitors to feel part of the bustle onsite while also providing a refuge in an open view of the native plantings with the water beyond.
The construction of the Adaptive Boating Center was almost complete when Nature Sacred engaged with CRAB to work on a Sacred Place together. Given the site’s location on the water, Critical Area regulations impacted what we were able to add on to the design; additionally, only a light touch was needed given the extent of the new construction. Thus, the Nature Sacred piece of the design focuses on two areas: the location of the bench and its immediate surrounding, and the entry to the site. The bench is located with its back to the pavilion, facing out toward the water. Native plantings provide an attractive, aromatic, and naturalistic foreground to that view.
The entry to the site will similarly have additional plants placed on either side of it. Additional hardscape embellishments – a short single line of brick on either side of the path and CRAB’s symbol in the center – may be added.
