The Georgetown waterfront in Washington, D.C. is about to get more fun for water lovers. Thanks to a partnership between Georgetown University, the National Park Service (NPS), and the District, Georgetown will build a new university boathouse allowing for community rowing and clear the way for more public access to the Potomac River.
The boathouse will be built to the west of the Key Bridge. Along with housing the men’s and women’s Georgetown Rowing teams, it will provide year-round public access to its docks. Community members can use them for kayaking, paddle boarding and canoeing, and increase programs expanding access to the sport of rowing in D.C., the university says. Thompson’s Boathouse, where Georgetown currently rows, will be used by other D.C.-area high school and collegiate teams.
“This collaborative effort between the District, Georgetown University, and the National Park Service transforms underutilized space along our treasured Potomac River into a beautiful, new boathouse that Georgetown University and the community will enjoy,” says D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. “The new boathouse will be an asset and opportunity for residents, young athletes, and visitors alike.”
At the same time, Georgetown is donating a piece of land on the Potomac river to the National park Service, which will extend the boundary of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park (C&O Canal). When an existing easement along the Capital Crescent Trail is removed, the public will have uninterrupted use of the trail and will be able to connect to the Georgetown Waterfront Park.
“By clearing the path for a long-envisioned boathouse, we’re supporting outdoor recreation and environmental education, and connecting new generations of users to the natural and cultural treasures of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park waterfront,” says NPS National Capital Region, Regional Director Jennifer T. Nersesian.
The plan has been a long time coming: a feasibility study was done way back in 2013.
The university says Key Bridge Boathouse, which offers tours, camps, and paddlecraft rentals, will continue to operate, nearby, at a new, to-be-determined location.
