16 June 2023

By Göran R Buckhorn

The other day, the Stonington Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) approved the master plan zone change, site plan and coastal area management review applications for the creation of the Mystic River Boathouse Park, which includes the Jim Dietz Rowing Center and Hart Perry Boathouse in Mystic, Connecticut. The focus is now to gain necessary approval from the state Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Engineering, and the Army Corps of Engineers.

“We are grateful to the many partners who have contributed so much over the years to this project. From 2016 through today, it has been thanks to the volunteers, town staff and various officials that we have gotten to this point,” said Danielle Chesebrough, Stonington First Selectman, in a statement. “There is still a good deal of work left to be done before this wonderful project comes to fruition, but we passed a major milestone this week”.

Under the proposal for the site, which is located on Route 27, north of Mystic Seaport Museum, a historic home, the Lovelace House, needs to be moved to allow the construction of the Jim Dietz Rowing Center and Hart Perry Boathouse. A dock will be built on the shoreline of the Mystic River, and there will be a lawn and parking lot.

Stonington Rowing Center Inc. (SRCI), a nonprofit group organized by residents and supporters of Stonington High School Crew, has taken responsibility for fundraising and construction of the boathouse. Earlier this year, the group said it had raised $1.5 million of the estimated $2.5 million to build the boathouse.

“This project will be transformative for the area,” said Mick O’Neill, president of Stonington Community Rowing Inc. “This is a great opportunity for the community to have river access like they never had before.”

Stonington Crew Coach John Thornell said in a press release that the next steps for the project will include obtaining approval from the Department of Transportation for the park’s driveway entrance, coastal permitting from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and approval from the Army Corps of Engineers for the rowing docks and the public dock.

The park will provide access for residents to the Mystic River through a public boat ramp and dock for non-motorized watercraft. Through partnerships with the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, Stonington Recreation and Mystic Seaport Museum additional non-rowing programs and activities will also be made available to the community.

“It’s taken a long time and a lot of effort by many people to get us to this point, and I think we are all looking forward to seeing the work take place,” Danielle Chesebrough said.

Site plan designs were completed and presented by Principal Chad Frost of Kent + Frost Architecture Design of Mystic.