The Brockport Community Rowing Club (BCRC) is on the verge of becoming a center for recreation, education and community connection along the historic Erie Canal. This nonprofit organization is getting ready to build its long-awaited boathouse. The boathouse will provide chances for people of all ages and skill levels to discover the beneficial power of rowing.
The journey for BCRC began more than 10 years ago, when community interest sparked a vision for a rowing club in Brockport. BCRC was founded by volunteers Cathy Houston-Wilson, Archie Kutz, Marleen Cain and Jim Martin. Since its creation, the club has had to navigate a challenging course of team building, property acquisition and fundraising.
BCRC is more than rowing, it’s building community. The club is actively searching for members, welcoming rowers from Brockport, Sweden, Clarkson, Hamlin, Holley, SUNY Brockport and the local school district. A BCRC board member and Kinesiology Professor at SUNY Brockport, Cathy Houston-Wilson, highlights the club’s purpose.
“The proposed club would welcome those with disabilities as well as the general community. It is a sport that can be learned and enjoyed by all,” Houston-Wilson said.
With the college being so close, BCRC has the opportunity to establish rowing into the curriculum of SUNY Brockport and the surrounding high schools.
“The club is open to forming club teams for both the college and high school to embed rowing into our curriculum. Giving our PE majors a chance to learn a sport that they could eventually coach or teach when they become teachers,” Houston-Wilson said.
BCRC’s mission goes beyond recreation. The boathouse looks to develop into a hub for marketing, social work, education and tourism.
“What we are offering here in Brockport is an opportunity for all members of our community to come together, work together, learn together and experience the joy of rowing on the open waters of the canal,” said Jim Martin.
The Erie Canal, where the boathouse will be built, offers many opportunities for recreation. Its calm waters are ideal for teaching the basics of rowing. Its natural beauty adds to the experience, motivating rowers with each stroke.
“I see this as a golden opportunity to increase tourism and enhance the wellness of the community by bringing that boathouse as a hub for canal activities,” Peter Abele from the Erie Canal Boat Company said.
The canal’s 2000-meter straightaway provides the perfect setting for regattas and rowing competitions. Additionally, the reconstruction of the bridge over the canal will include a viewing area for spectators to cheer rowers on from the banks.
Rowing isn’t just about building physical strength. The sport offers a special blend of excitement and serenity, allowing rowers to leave their problems at the dock. This therapeutic aspect of rowing is essential to the club’s mission. A community member, Maryanne Siracusa, experiences the joy of the canal.
“After a while, something really happened. The rowers started talking and laughing. When we leave that dock, we leave all of our problems at the dock,” said Siracusa.
A team sport that unites people from all backgrounds and generations, rowing promotes camaraderie. Children, teens, adults, the elderly and adaptive rowers are all welcomed at BCRC. The club is committed to fostering a welcoming environment.
“Rowing keeps you physically active and socially connected. We want to expand that community to Brockport,” said BCRC board member Marleen Cain.
The impact of rowing is demonstrated through the wide range of participants it reaches. With availability to cancer survivors, people with disabilities and those seeking to improve mental health, the sports benefits are highlighted by a member of ROCCREW, Melissa Allen. ROCCREW, formerly known as Naiades Oncology Rowing, is a rowing group for cancer survivors.
“The opportunities to develop muscles, be out on the water, be part of a team… was inspiring on a physical, spiritual and mental level,” said Allen.
As the boathouse becomes a reality, BCRC’s success will be measured not just by the number of rowers on the water, but by the lives it touches.
“This is about quality of life, building teamwork and enjoying the serenity of being on the water,” said Jim Martin.
The impact of BCRC extends to the broader community, shaping Brockport’s culture as a waterside village. Once the team is established, it will offer free “Learn to Row” sessions and community events. The club invites everyone to discover the joy of rowing, creating a feeling of belonging and pride in Brockport.
Brockport’s deep sense of community makes it the perfect place to launch a rowing club focused on inclusivity and connection. With the help of local businesses, residents and partnerships with groups like Rochester Accessible Adventures, BCRC is well positioned to create a welcoming atmosphere for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.
