Photo: National Ability Center

PARK CITY, Utah— The National Ability Center, founded in 1985 to teach veterans with disabilities how to ski, will mark its 40th anniversary Saturday with a free community celebration showcasing the breadth of its adaptive recreation programs.

The event runs 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the center’s 26-acre ranch at 1000 Ability Way. An open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. will let visitors try archery, rock climbing, pickleball, mountain biking, high-ropes elements, a giant swing and meet-and-greet sessions with therapy horses. Closed-toe shoes are required. From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., the campus turns into a party with food trucks, live music, yard games, face painting, an ice-cream truck and a cash bar. No RSVP is needed.

“Recreation is for everyone, and it takes creativity and the right people to make sure that it is accessible for all,” said Tracy Meier, the center’s chief programming and education officer, who has worked at the nonprofit for 23 of its 40 years. “Families and friends can and should recreate together, and that is exactly what we’ll see on Saturday.”

From ski lessons to statewide reach

The National Ability Center (NAC) was co-founded by Meeche White and Pete Badewitz as the Park City Handicapped Sports Association, offering ski lessons at Park City Mountain Resort. Community support soon led to the donation of land that became today’s ranch campus and, more recently, to construction of the McGrath Mountain Center at the resort base.

Program growth followed a similar arc. About 30 percent of the roughly 6,000 people served each year are military members or veterans, Meier said. A 2014 merger with the adaptive-rafting nonprofit Splore extended the NAC’s reach to seven river sections across Utah and set the stage for a planned accessible facility in Moab.

“One in four Americans has a disability, whether visible or invisible, and that means there’s an ever-growing demand for what we do,” Meier said. “Our next frontier is expanding programs and resources so more people can participate, in Park City and beyond.”

Removing financial barriers

Cost is a hurdle the center tries to erase. “This past year, we gave out over $6 million in program subsidies and scholarships,” Meier said, noting that the NAC already discounts its activities before scholarships are applied. The organization is seeking additional funding and volunteers to keep pace with demand.

Invitation to the community

Saturday’s celebration is designed to introduce newcomers to the center’s adaptive equipment and staff while thanking supporters who have sustained the nonprofit for four decades. “You’ll have the opportunity to experience riding some of our adaptive equipment,” Meier said. “There is truly something for everyone at the National Ability Center.”

More information is available at discovernac.org.