Brockport Mayor Margay Blackman says plans for a boathouse in the village along the bank of the Erie Canal are moving forward now that the College at Brockport has agreed to lease land for the project on the south bank in Commissary Park.
She explains the college made the decision, “contingent to the formation of a rowing club to take liability for the building and equipment.”
The boathouse project has been discussed for several years. In 2015, The New York State Canal Corp awarded the village a $75,000 matching grant for developing infrastructure necessary to support recreational and competitive rowing programs. At that time, the boathouse was proposed on land owned by the Canal Corp near the Park Avenue bridge.
When that site proved unsuitable, Corbett Park – the village’s largest – was eyed as a possible location. Neighbors, however, expressed numerous concerns over the site and the village, “heard them,” Mayor Blackman says.
Village leaders then began researching Commissary Park, which is located along the south bank of the canal on the College at Brockport campus. Once ownership of the parcel was established, an agreement was reached to lease the land to the village (for $1) for the boathouse site, contingent upon the formation of the Brockport Community Rowing Club (BCRC).
The Rowing Club will assume liability for the boathouse and equipment. Its mission is, “to serve as a community-based and volunteer-driven organization, dedicated to developing rowing for a diverse population, while accessing the Erie Canal and gaining an appreciation for this historic resource,” the mayor says.
The proposed boathouse has faced its share of opposition, not only from residents who did not want it in Corbett Park, but also from those who feel it is impractical for the village.
During a regular meeting of the Village Board last August, resident Linda Borrayo said Brockport is a poor community. “The use of money for this type of wish-list that takes care of the elite is not something the Village of Brockport needs,” she told trustees.
Other residents have said the village should focus on infrastructure improvements over a project that might have limited interest.
Mayor Blackman says, “no taxpayer money is involved in the project,” and the Village Department of Public Works will, “be pulled out of the project as much as possible.”
Initially, the DPW was to have completed in-kind labor for construction of the boathouse, but Mayor Blackman says Pittsford was able to build their boathouses with volunteer labor. “We will follow the Pittsford example,” she says.
In addition to the Canal Corp grant, the village has received a $50,000 grant from the NYS Dormitory Authority. Additionally, the project has received several donations including $9,000 from BISCO; $1,000 in a private donation; 80 percent of proceeds from the Craft Beer event at the Low Bridge High Water festival in 2015, 2016 and one more time this year. A motorboat has been donated as well as equipment including an eight person racing shell and oars. A dock will be built at the location, the mayor says.
Currently, the Brockport Community Rowing Club is working on its by-laws and will then apply for 501c3 status. When that is complete, the BCRC will be able to obtain insurance, she explains.
“People are interested in the rowing club,” Mayor Blackman says. She estimates about 50 people have expressed an interest, however, there are not many active rowers at this point. Dr. Cathy Houston-Wilson, a collegiate rower and chair of the Kinesiology, Sports Studies and Physical Education Department at the College at Brockport, has volunteered to serve as president of the Rowing Club’s Board of Directors. The board of 13 is currently two-thirds full, Mayor Blackman says.
The possibility exists that the college and perhaps Brockport High School will eventually form rowing teams, and the canal just west of campus has a long straight stretch which facilitates regattas, the mayor adds.
Brockport would be the first community to have a rowing program on the west side of Monroe County. Currently, Pittsford, Fairport and Brighton have rowing programs in place. Mayor Blackman has said the boathouse and rowing project would allow the village to continue its development of canal-related activities and attractions which are integral to economic development goals.
