by KYW's Ian Bush
The city-owned Canoe Club on Kelly Drive has been closed by the Department of Licenses and Inspections. Officals say the boathouse has structural problems. And now five schools are scrambling to find a place for their rowing equipment.
Some 100 boats are kept in the building; dozens more rowers gather and change there before heading out on the Schuylkill.
Temple men's crew coach Gavin White says he was blindsided by the city's decision to close the Canoe Club:
"We had no preparation or forewarning. And all of the sudden they put a fence up around our boathouse."
But because of L&I's decision that the building is unsafe, the Fairmount Park Commission, who donates space there to Temple University, and North Catholic, Father Judge, and LaSalle College High Schools is making them move their boats by February 15th.
Clete Graham is commodore of the Schuylkill Navy:
"We're hopeful we can find some kind of resolution with the park and maybe the help of the other rowing schools and clubs in Philadelphia to maybe keep these guys rowing through the spring."
Team reps are set to meet with the Fairmount Park Commission Thursday. Officials from the commission and L & I didn't immediately return calls for further comment.
White says the rowing community has stepped up to offer help. But the season's just around the corner -- and he's worried about a permanent solution.
"With practice due to start on the water next week, we're kind of in a bind. We're really worried -- mostly about being able to give our kids a decent place to row."
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