The Independent Rowing News

After twenty-one years of rowing out of the same location, the Cleveland Rowing Foundation hopes to purchase a new location for their growing program. The Rivergate Park would not only offer a permanent rowing facility, but also a place for kayaking, dragon boating and biking.

Recently, casino gambling passed in an area of Cleveland, including the property that the CRF currently rowers out of. The site is likely to be developed into a casino, so the CRF is looking to find a permanent home down the river.

“The club began at this boathouse twenty-one years ago,” says Executive Director Theresa Gang. “but it is time for us to have a new home.” Gang also says that the club is at maximum capacity for boats in their current location, and the new boathouse would allow for programs to grow. “We have over 824 rowers, four high schools, four collegiate programs and an adult program. We also offer a summer rowing league that meets once a week during the summer that includes about 300 participants.”

Rivergate Park not only offers more space, but the Cleveland Rowing Foundation has also paired up with a kayaking program and a dragon boat program. An Ohio City bicycle co-op also has agreed to go in on the space. “We really want to make a powerful recreational facility for the city of Cleveland,” says Gang.

The seven-acre park is priced at $3.2 million, with around $1.8 million already raised. “$500,000 of that came internally from our members,” adds Gang. CRF paired with Trust for Public Land has secured the option of purchasing the property, but the offer expires May 31^st of this year. “Time is really of the essence,” she says.

Gang along with a proposal committee has been working around the clock trying to receive grants, going to corporations, asking for federally given money and asking for local support. On Sunday, February 21^st, CRF held “The Hammer”, an indoor erging event to raise money and awareness about the Rivergate property. “It went very well! We had all the crews participate as well as programs from other cities come and join us.” The “ergatta” as they called it didn’t just have a simple 2,000 meter event. Among the events one had crews race as teams on linked slides, and an image of the crews’ progress was projected on a large screen. The event was held in honor of a high school rower who passed away in the last year. “We expect it to be bigger and crazier next year,” says Gang.

CRF will begin their water season in their currently boathouse, while Gang and crew works to meet the deadline. If you would like to make a donation or learn more about CRF, go to their website, www.clevelandrows.org.

By Liz Bernal