From Deseret News archives:

Developer aims to help disabled enjoy watersports

Published: Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008 12:12 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Rick Lybbert has not always been an innovative community developer.

However, he has been an avid water-skier and physical therapist. Lybbert and his wife have decided to share their love of watersports with people with disabilities, like the ones Lybbert helps on a daily basis at work.

The couple went with a group of people with disabilities to Utah Lake on a watersport trip. But, Lybbert noted that the water was far too choppy for anyone to really enjoy.

That was when Lybbert and his wife decided to put their vision into action. They decided to create a private sports lake community. That community would be accessible to anyone with disabilities. The private lakes would be a perfect environment for someone with a disability to learn to enjoy watersports, Lybbert said.

He designed a contract between the development and Edge Adaptive Sports to allow groups of disabled individuals to come to the lakes during the afternoons of a specific day each week. Four three-day camps will also be held throughout the year.

Story continues below
"Last Chance Lakes is a very unique and special development," Lybbert said. It was designed so all the commons area is completely flat. A person can travel by wheelchair from their vehicle to the waterfront or the house without need of ramps or other aides. Lybbert said the lakes will be open for Edge Adaptive Sports to bring in the first wave of people with disabilities in early Spring.

While Last Chance Lakes is designed to help those with disabilities, it is also appealing to those without. Before the lakes were filled, nine of the 19 lots had already been sold. Each lot is priced between $200,000 and $350,000. The residents will have open access to the lakes with a private boat dock and hydraulic lift on each lot.

Lybbert said the lake community is being funded by the sales of the lots. He said he believes that the nine sold lots are evidence of the demand for such an area. The Last Chance Lakes community is the first of its kind in Utah. However, Lybbert said that since starting the development, two similar communities have been planned for other areas of Utah.

Last night Lybbert threw a party at the lakes. At 7 p.m. Lybbert opened the valve, to begin filling the two lakes that will be the main focus of the community. Last Chance Lakes are located in Tooele County on Pony Express Road.


E-mail: cmadsen@desnews.com

Recent comments

Congrats Rick. A dream come true. More than I could have imagined.

Eric G | Aug. 6, 2008 at 9:38 p.m.

Good job Rick! This will be fantastic - imagine - a place that will...

Kyle | Aug. 5, 2008 at 1:53 p.m.

Image

Badge Morris, 10, bottom, and his brother Trey, 9, play in the new Last Chance Lakes development in Tooele County.

previousnext

Latest comments

Bronco, Kyle rubber match

"Do you honestly expect people here to be stupid enough to think that beating...

Reagan much-beloved in Utah

All of the presidents since Reagan have been bad ones. We need another Reagan...

Schumer: Dems ready to go-it-alone

"Lemmings ready to go it alone on health care" That wold be ok if I were...

Here's the thing: when gays and lesbians emphasize "Here's all the great...

Hall, Johnson matchup key

The Cougars will win IF: They show up with the same passion and energy they...

And who do you think has the votes to raise taxes the Mayor. The City Council...

I'm not a huge soccer fan but that game last night was amazing! I think I...

@Central Banks: the laughable thing about your comment is that we "force our...

Letters: Give soldiers a chance

You have obviously never been the military. The only weapons I ever saw...

To "Nonconlib | 10:16 a.m." you asked "When was the last time anybody had a...

Advertisements