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From: BETSY LANG (CRGL-THIRDPARTY.COM) [mailto:BETSY_LANG@CRGL-THIRDPARTY.COM] <br />Sent: Monday, March 2, 2020 9:07 AM <br />To: Adam Edwards <aedwards@ci.orono.mn.us> <br />Subject: Long Lake Rowing Crew - Summit Park project <br /> <br />To the Orono Parks Commission, <br /> <br />I'm writing to express my involvement with Long Lake Rowing Crew (LLRC) and support the project to <br />find the club a long term home in partnership with the Orono Parks Commission. <br /> <br />I returned to Minnesota after 15 years living abroad, where I was lucky to live on a river that saw rowing <br />crews pass daily. I loved seeing the rowers silently make their way upstream, and when I moved to the <br />Western suburbs of Minneapolis, I reached out to the club in Long Lake to see if there was any <br />possibility of trying it out myself. The group was welcoming and encouraging; I started the winter indoor <br />training with them the year I arrived and started on the lake the following summer. <br /> <br />The team is open to newcomers, helps youth and adults learn a lifelong sport and allows interaction <br />with the natural beauty of Long Lake. I've now had the pleasure to get to know the club's members, <br />learned to row and found an undescribable enjoyment on the water. <br /> <br />Long Lake is quite a bit different from the summer highways of neighboring Lakes like Minnetonka. <br />Having non-motorized boats regularly accessing the water maintains a healthy balance, instilling a sense <br />of respect for the lake and for human powered machines. It also creates a sense of identity and <br />community for past, present and future rowing enthusiasts. <br /> <br />I hope to give my children an opportunity to learn to row when they get to high school. The LLRC helps <br />teach young people stewardship of the lake and encourages community service as part of the team <br />experience. The inclusive, respectful spirit of the club teaches life lessons that are reinforced through <br />regular interaction with the Masters (adult) rowers. Seeing all ages participate in a healthy outdoor <br />activity makes the visit to Long Lake worth it for both spectators and participants. <br /> <br />I encourage you to support LLRC, a great asset to the communities of Orono and Long Lake, in their <br />mission to make the club more visible and accessible with a boat house at Summit Park. If you have any <br />questions, don't hesitate to contact me. <br /> <br />Kind regards, <br /> <br />Betsy Lang <br />Mound, MN <br /> <br />