SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Apr. 4, 2011) - The Mount Holyoke Community Boathouse was recently featured in Athletic Administration magazine's annual facilities showcase. A copy of article can be viewed by clicking here. A complete transcript is listed below.
Athletic Administration is the official publication of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). The organization is headed up by Dave Roach, who said the following.
"Staying with tradition, the October issue of Athletics Administration is a showcase of facilities covering all six divisions of collegiate athletics that have been built or significantly renovated within the past year. This year we have selected 13 impressive facilities."
The Mount Holyoke Community Boathouse was officially unveiled in the spring of 2010. In addition to housing the Mount Holyoke crew team, the $2.1 million facility also gives community members access to the Connecticut River. In late October, the Seven Sisters Regatta became the first major event to be hosted by the facility.
Athletics Administration Facilities Showcase (October 2010)
Mount Holyoke's new boathouse was a much welcomed addition to its crew team when it opened last spring. Situated adjacent to the Connecticut River on 8.5 acres of college owned land, the 4,570 square foot,single-story, barn-style facility contains boat storage, two bathrooms and a warm-up/stretching area.
Crew began at Mount Holyoke in 1976 and has grown from a small club sport to one of the College's largest varsity teams, with nearly 50 student-athletes on its roster. However, prior to last spring, the college rented space in Brunelle's Marina to house its boats — a basic, single bay facility located near the new boathouse. Like all successful projects, the implementation and completion of the project did not happen overnight. The idea of a new boathouse began in 1989, putting in motion a 21-year climb of planning, land acquisition and securing permissions at every level of authority. The permitting process for the facility wasc omplicated and highly complex, consuming nearly a decade alone, making its completion even more satisfying.
The all-female institution of 2,200 has a significant impact in the small town of South Hadley, Mass., in which it is located, and the boathouse is no exception. The idea behind the boathouse was more than just a home for the Mount Holyoke crew team, but also to serve the surrounding community.
"The new facility not only supports Mount Holyoke College's rowing program, it allows the College to continue to expand rowing programsin South Hadley," said crew coach Jeanne Friedman.
The small town is home to about 17,000 residents, but despite its size, provided widespread support for the project. Besides the town of South Hadley, a number of other public and private organizations were intricate in seeing the boathouse complete.
"In many ways, I think this project is the conclusion of significant commitment that the College has made to women's athletics and to promote sport within our community," stated Director of Athletics Laurie Priest.
The South Hadley Fire District and the South Hadley Police Department will have access to the boathouse, as will Greater South Hadley Youth Rowing, Adaptive Rowing and community rowing for adults, among others. There are plans in the works for the facility to support other programs, including a rowing camp for women and a community rowing program.
According to Coach Friedman, since its opening last spring, the boathouse is no longer just a boathouse, but instead a boat "home," as it "is a place of security, of permanence, a place where our memories will always be and a place of outreach to the community because we'vealways wanted to do that."
