Access For Water Sports
The vision from the beginning was to offer opportunities for both the rowing and paddling community in Arlington.
The county boasts public: Washington-Liberty, Yorktown, and Wakefield High Schools and one private Bishop Dennis J. O’Connell High School. With program histories going back as far as 1949, the county's high school programs have offered generations of Arlingtonians an opportunity to enjoy the river through the sport. Community members include recreational, adaptive, and Olympic-level athletes who call Arlington and the Potomac “home.”
This rich history intermixes with that of the area paddling community which for generations has given county residents additional outlets, both recreational and competitive, access to the river. From social paddles to Olympians training for the next games, the paddling community has offered an intimate way to experience our river.
Currently, Arlington residents are forced to cross the Potomac River into the District of Columbia to participate in either activity, be they high school students or adult athletes. A boathouse on the Arlington shore would offer quicker, safer, and more environmentally friendly access to the river with shorter travel times, less fuel burned, and more time for enjoying the sports our community enjoys.
Opportunities for novice and recreational athletes, as well as juniors, masters, adaptive athletes, would be part of the programing at the facility. U.S. military veterans as they transition into civilian life would also have opportunities for experiencing the healing power of nature and teamwork through rowing and paddling activities.