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• SECTION TWO <br /> 1. The Current Situation <br /> In the absence of a permanent home, LLRC has had to rely on creative storage solutions,including a modified <br /> "boatyard"our rowers installed in the old Billy's Lighthouse parking lot,and now on the Birch's hillside and in the <br /> woods adjacent to the restaurant.The present situation leaves our equipment exposed to the elements, <br /> unsecured and open to vandalism and theft. <br /> •Winter storage for the LLRC boat trailer and shells is borrowed space in a barn in Maple Plain,owned by friends <br /> of one of our rowers. <br /> •Gear is spread out across the community in private homes and sheds. <br /> • Birch's proprietors have graciously partnered with LLRC to provide storage space and dock space for launching <br /> our shells and tying our 2 motorized coaching launches. <br /> •Safeguarding our investment in our fleet is a challenge when it can't be properly secured indoors. We have <br /> already had one of our outboard motors stolen while at our present location. <br /> •The inability to adequately safeguard equipment,conduct off-season programming or relocate in-season <br /> practices when inclement weather keeps rowers off the water is what ultimately causes teams to fail. <br /> 2. Benefits of a Permanent Home for LLRC <br /> During community meetings with residents and neighbors,and at Park Commission and City Council meetings,we <br /> listened carefully to what people in the community said about a number of aspects of this proposed partnership <br /> with the City of Orono. We took these comments to heart,and we feel strongly that the following benefits of the <br /> Long Lake Community Rowing Center to the community are worth noting: <br /> • Providing residents in the community with another access point to Long Lake and more opportunities to enjoy it; <br /> • Increasing opportunities for local youth who wish to pursue rowing beyond high school to gain access to colleges <br /> and universities they may not have thought it possible to attend(according to eCollegeFinder, rowing is the sport <br /> with the highest opportunity for college scholarships,for both rowers and coxswains); <br /> •The ability to open up winter training and fitness classes,with qualified trainers,to the community to meet <br /> growing demand and in direct response to the boom in indoor rowing(see"Machine Learning" by Colleen <br /> Saville,Rowing magazine, February 2020); <br /> •Additional opportunities at the park for multi-season use; <br /> •A partner to help the City finance updates to Summit Park,including a new playground and natural play area; <br /> •An extension of the growing push toward better health and fitness in our community, in combination with Gear <br /> West, FitHaus,Orono Activity Center,and other gyms and wellness programs in town(see"Movement Medicine" <br /> by Alan Oldham,Rowing magazine, February 2020). Kids should have lots of opportunities to enjoy the lake in their <br /> own town.While the beaches provide a place to sit and enjoy the lake from a beach towel or the shoreline,we <br />