03-02-2020 Park Commission Packet

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From:Kaelynn Heiberg To:Adam Edwards Cc:Long Lake Rowing Subject:Long Lake Rowing Crew Summit Park Project Date:Wednesday, February 26, 2020 4:02:24 PM Hello Mr. Edwards and the Orono Parks Commission, My name is Kaelynn Heiberg and I am one of the coaches for Long Lake Rowing Crew. I wanted to help demonstrate to the Orono Parks Commission that Long Lake Rowing Crew is a community asset and that a boathouse in Summit Park will help this rowing crew continue to serve the Orono community. As a coach I have seen the difference that rowing can make to kids and adults alike. Long Lake Rowing Crew provides a safe space to learn a new skill, to make lifelong friendships and to gain confidence that can be taken from the boat into rowers’ daily lives. Rowing is also a new way for people to enjoy a wonderful lake, like Long Lake, and to get exercise as well. Indoor rowing has been growing in popularity lately and as a rowing club we could help people translate that new interest in rowing to the outdoors, getting the workout they looked for in the indoor class, while being able to enjoy the beautiful lake and park. Rowing is also a skill that high school students can take to college. In recent years our high school program has seen successes that have gotten noticed nationwide, so that when our high schoolers visit college rowing teams, the rowers and coaches recognize Long Lake Rowing Crew as a successful program, one that creates rowers who are assets to teams across the country. Long Lake rowers are encouraged to take part in community service projects, to come together as a team off the water, and to show appreciation for the community that supports us. Rowing is a great way to learn teamwork and leadership skills, and when we host community learn-to-row classes, we ask current rowers to help us coaches lead these classes. The classes give our rowers a chance to engage with new people and help teach the sport of rowing. The learn-to-row classes we offer through Orono Community Education are almost always full and usually have a waitlist, showing us that there is community interest in rowing already. A boathouse would help us continue to improve the quality of these classes and give us more options if the lake was windy or too rainy to row on. A boathouse would be a place indoors to hold the learn-to-row safely without making participants reschedule during the busy summer months. With a partnership between the Orono Parks Commission and Long Lake Rowing Crew, Summit Park would become a new place for people to try rowing and to enjoy the lake. Thank you, Kaelynn Heiberg