Georgetown University has reached a significant agreement with the National Park Service (NPS) and Washington, D.C. officials to construct a new university boathouse and enhance the waterfront area along the Potomac River. This announcement was made on June 10 and marks a monumental step in the university’s long-standing pursuit of a dedicated facility for its rowing teams.
The agreement, which still requires approval from the Council of the District of Columbia, involves the allocation of federal land located west of the Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge for the construction of the boathouse. In exchange, D.C. receives a second parcel of land to the east of the bridge which will be developed to improve public access to the waterfront.
After decades of advocacy for a boathouse, this development is a welcomed advancement for both Georgetown’s rowing programs and the local community. Lee Reed, Georgetown’s director of intercollegiate athletics, expressed optimism about the project in a statement to The Hoya, highlighting that it would open new opportunities for both the men’s and women’s teams.
“This announcement is a huge step forward for our men’s and women’s rowing programs,” Reed stated. “The collaboration between the University, the National Park Service, and the District of Columbia sets us on a path to construct a home for our rowing teams while also enhancing the Georgetown waterfront for the local community.”
The push for the boathouse has been ongoing for years, with earlier attempts at a similar agreement dating back to 1998 and city approval in 2003. Each effort brought Georgetown and NPS closer to finalizing the current deal. University officials expect the D.C. City Council to review the legislative approval of this agreement later in the year. They anticipate construction could begin after a two-year permitting process concludes.
Once finished, the new boathouse will replace the Thompson Boat Center, a public facility managed by NPS, which has been the home for Georgetown’s rowing teams for nearly 50 years. Current captains of the women’s rowing team — Ellie Power, Sydney Thompson, and Alex Junko — expressed their excitement about finally having a dedicated space to call “home.”
“We’re honoring where we’ve come from and getting to work with our men’s programs to build something lasting for the future,” they wrote jointly. “This boathouse will surely give the program more space to build on previous years of momentum and provide the opportunity to further positively impact the wider Georgetown community.”
Interim university president Robert Groves commented on the collaborative spirit that has characterized this long-standing effort. He emphasized that the agreement not only supports the university’s rowing teams but also serves the greater Georgetown neighborhood.
“This collaborative effort, which has been underway for decades, will create a special space for the Georgetown rowing community and will usher in a new era for public access to the Georgetown waterfront,” Groves stated. He also appreciated the ongoing engagement with local and federal leaders throughout the process.
Previous plans for a Georgetown boathouse faced resistance back in 2003 from environmental groups and local rowing organizations, who were concerned about the implications of transferring public land for private use and the potential obstruction of river views. However, university, city, and federal officials argue that the new boathouse, along with accompanying developments, will be beneficial to the entire area.
The agreement also includes a provision for Georgetown to donate land to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, which lies along the canal south of Georgetown’s Hilltop campus. Jennifer Nersesian, NPS’ national capital regional director, noted the importance of expanding public access to parks and the careful balance needed to preserve public land while enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities.
“A transfer of this nature reflects the careful balance between preserving our nation’s public lands and fostering public access to the Potomac River,” she said. “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.”
The docks of the Georgetown boathouse are planned to be open to the public year-round for recreational use. As part of the agreement, the Key Bridge Boathouse, which currently operates in the area, will relocate to a new site yet to be disclosed.
The waterfront land operated by the city aims to improve public access to the waterfront and to be integrated with the existing Georgetown Waterfront Park, further enhancing the area along the Potomac River.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser highlighted the broader benefits the new boathouse will bring to the entire Georgetown community. “I am proud to lead a city that works hand-in-hand with our partners to bring long-envisioned projects to life,” Bowser stated. “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.”
The women’s rowing team captains, Power, Thompson, and Junko, concluded their statement with optimism for the future, expressing their eagerness to witness the unfolding developments as their final year at Georgetown progresses. “We look forward to seeing the progress unfold in our final year here and anticipate that this will continue to foster the growth of the program’s identity on the Potomac for years to come.”
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