Oct 16, 2008 6:01 pm US/Eastern
New Boat House Opens The Charles To The Community
BRIGHTON (WBZ) ―
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You might think this $15 million addition to the waterfront would carry the name of a prestigious college, but this is not for the elite, it's for the community.
WBZ
For more than a year, people traveling along Nonantum Road in Brighton have watched the building take shape, and what a shape…long lines, much like the boats it houses, and an exterior of wood panels, shaped to look like the ripples an oar makes as it slices through the water.
You might think this $15 million addition to the waterfront would carry the name of a prestigious college, but this is not for the elite, it's for the community.
"It's intended to open the door to the Charles River in a way it's never really been opened before," said Bruce Smith, Executive Director of Community Rowing.
The non-profit has been teaching people to row on the Charles since 1985. The group's previous home was a shed just up the street.
But now it has double the space and many more amenities, like a community room for meetings and events, a weight room for training and a classroom for life lessons.
Inner city kids will be tutored here, before heading out onto the water for free rowing lessons.
"Mind and body," said Smith, "They get exercise, they learn all the values of rowing, they get self discipline and they learn how to work in a team."
Marko Vukovic, who coaches the boy's junior team says the new building is a huge asset to the program. "We can grow even bigger, this is definitely going to help us."
The group hopes the openness of the building will attract more people to the programs and the river.
Huge airplane hanger doors remain open at each end of the building. A special walkway encourages joggers to travel through, and a sleek glass boat pavilion showcases the shells that hold the promise of a smooth peaceful glide on the river.
Says Smith, "The way I think of the building is as a giant billboard that says please come and row."
The boathouse is named after legendary Harvard rowing coach, Harry Parker.
The group will be giving tours to the public throughout the Head of the Charles Regatta weekend.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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