State Officials Visit Mount Holyoke Boathouse

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (February 2, 2010) - Richard Sullivan, the Commonwealth's Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, joined State Representative John Scibak to tour a new boathouse being built by Mount Holyoke to serve both the College and the community.

The visit took place on Friday, January 29 - a frigid day that saw thick ice floes cruising the Connecticut River, where Mount Holyoke rowers will soon be honing their skills. 

boathouseCrew coach Jeanne Friedman gave the state officials a tour of the $2.1 million Mount Holyoke College Community Boathouse on Ferry Street in South Hadley. Now under construction, the new home of the College's crew team and numerous programs benefitting residents of South Hadley and surrounding communities is nearly finished.

"DCR is pleased to support Mount Holyoke College in their effort to build a new community boathouse," Sullivan said. "It will help to expand recreational opportunities in the region."

"I am pleased to see the state, the town, and the College working so well together here," said Scibak. "This new facility will benefit the local area with an innovative variety of recreational activities that will reach beyond the College to benefit our communities."

The new facility will allow the College to continue or expand a number of community rowing initiatives, including community rowing for local high schools, senior rowers, and others interested in the sport, as well as for differently abled rowers.