Georgetown edges closer to new boathouse construction in deal with National Park Service, Washington D.C.
Rowing at Georgetown University: A Century-Long Dream Comes to Life
The rowing tradition at Georgetown University dates back to the early 1900s, with students rowing on the Potomac River as early as 1901. For decades, the university's rowing teams have been seeking a permanent home, and their dream is now on the verge of becoming a reality.
On June 10, Georgetown announced an agreement with the National Park Service and the District of Columbia that promises to enhance public access to the Georgetown Waterfront and provide Georgetown with land along the Potomac River for the construction of a new boathouse. The boathouse will serve as a hub for the men's and women's rowing teams and offer rowing programming for the DC community.
The boathouse, to be located at the base of the Key Bridge, will be open to the public year-round for activities like canoeing, paddleboarding, and kayaking. This project is the culmination of decades of collaborative efforts between Georgetown, the National Park Service, and the city to identify the most suitable location.
"This long-anticipated effort will create a special space for the Georgetown rowing community and usher in a new era for public access to the Georgetown Waterfront," said Robert M. Groves, interim president of Georgetown University.
The boathouse will be funded solely through external fundraising and gifts to the university.
A Brief History of Georgetown's Rowing Community
For many years, the university's rowing teams have been operating from shared spaces like Thompson's Boathouse. The teams have faced numerous challenges, including a lack of institutional funding and limited storage space for their racing shells. However, their resilience and determination persisted, and they managed to compete at regional and national levels.
In the 1960s, the men's rowing team received official university recognition and funding. The women's team followed suit in 1978. Since then, both teams have shared Thompson's Boathouse with George Washington University's crew team and other college and high school teams.
One of the key figures who advocated for a dedicated boathouse for Georgetown's rowing teams was former Olympian Tony Johnson, coach emeritus of Georgetown's rowing program. He served as a Georgetown rowing coach for 28 years and championed the cause of a boathouse on a committee chaired by President Emeritus John J. DeGioia in the 1990s.
"For generations of rowing community members, the boathouse is a fulfillment of 'a long-held hope,' said Patrick McArdle, executive director of Athletic Relations at Georgetown University. "It provides stability and a sense of permanence, and it's a reflection that rowing belongs at Georgetown."
In the coming months, Georgetown will apply for design review and concept approval from the Old Georgetown Board and Commission of Fine Arts, and prepare for zoning and permitting processes. This agreement is also set to go before the Council of the District of Columbia for approval. The new boathouse is expected to elevate Georgetown's rowing program and contribute to the broader community's access to the waterfront.
This agreement not only marks a significant step forward for Georgetown's rowing program but also reflects the university's commitment to enhancing public access to the Potomac River and the Georgetown Waterfront. Through this new boathouse, Georgetown hopes to cement its place as a leader in the Washington, D.C. rowing community.
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The upcoming boathouse at Georgetown University will not only serve as a hub for the university's rowing teams but also offer learning opportunities in various water-based activities for the wider DC community, contributing significantly to education-and-self-development and learning. Georgetown's rowing program, with its rich history dating back to the early 1900s, is set to experience enhanced facilities and resources, reflecting the university's commitment to fostering university education and fostering self-development through sports.
