Paerdegat Basin came alive on Saturday, July 25th, as local residents swapped the summer heat for life jackets and paddles at Sebago Canoe Club’s annual free open house. Located at 1400 Paerdegat Avenue North, the club opened its doors as part of the ninth annual City of Water Day, a regional movement highlighting climate resilience and equitable waterfront access.
Visitors explored the historic grounds, met with veteran paddlers and took to the water on guided kayak, canoe and rowing trips across the basin.
For several attendees, the event served as an introduction to local water sports. Thirteen-year-old Louis, a participant in The Explorers program, tried kayaking for the first time and declared the experience an absolute win. After a morning of dodging splashes and gliding through the water with friends, he noted he would “100%” do it again.
The open house attracted a mix of neighborhood regulars and curious newcomers. One longtime Brooklynite found the gathering on Eventbrite while searching for water activities close to home, hoping to build on beginner kayak sessions she had recently taken at Shirley Chisholm State Park. Another attendee, a Prospect Park South resident who first visited during last year’s City of Water Day, returned this summer as an official club volunteer. Calling Sebago “a gem,” she pointed out one of its biggest perks: members don’t need to own their own gear, as the club provides boats and equipment following standard orientation and safety training.
For more than 80 years, Sebago Canoe Club in Canarsie has served as a sanctuary for NYC’s human-powered boating community, continuing its mission to keep Brooklyn’s blue spaces accessible to all.
