Club, forest preserve district take first step for St. Charles rowing site site

The St. Charles Rowing Club (SCRC) and the Kane County Forest Preserve have announced the first step in the development and usage of Fox River Bluff East Forest Preserve as a community rowing Facility.

A new land usage agreement with SCRC and the ongoing support from the Forest Preserve Board are initial steps, the SCRC said in a statement.

“It will be our ‘forever home,’” said Chris Meldrum, SCRC president. “We have offered not only competitive juniors programs but diverse rowing programs as well.”

“There is excitement among local and national crew teams looking forward to coming to St. Charles to compete” he said. “Our main focus is to bring the community together as rowers, engaging the river not only as rowing platform but as a venue to provide scholarship opportunities. This is an exciting first step in making St. Charles a rowing destination.”

Fox River Bluff East is approximately 35 wooded acres, and 720 feet of river frontage on the in Saint Charles.

Located north of the Red Gate Bridge, it is a desirable location for regional and national rowing regattas and events as well as attracting tourists, spectators and competitors. There is also a bike path that runs alongside. SCRC is expected to relocate to the site in spring 2015.

The club recognizes the amount of sweat equity needed to re-work this piece of land. Basic land and riverfront modifications, temporary docking, and safe river access to the river top the list, but the club remains energized about the future and what this project means to St. Charles and surrounding communities.

“Fundraising for a community boathouse will be extensive, but we believe in this program and we will only grow,” Meldrum said. “It’s great to be the only hometown team.”

Last summer SCRC and Grand Valley State University held the first Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) learn-to-row class.
Due to lack of usable facilities locally, it was held in Allendale, Mich., in conjunction with Grand Valley Head Rowing Coach John Bancheri and the Grand Valley State University Rowing Club.

SCRC is also looking ahead to hosting an indoor competitive rowing event with WWP and Team Red White & Blue (RWB) in March. The club is excited to begin rowing programs with RWB at Fox Valley Fitness in Geneva and on the water this spring and through the summer.

SCRC started a just 18 months ago with Meldrum’s son, Gordon O’Brien and Sam Schweizer, both freshmen rowers for Marietta College and Milwaukee School of Engineering respectively. Currently SCRC has more rowers than boats.

With 16 high schools in the area and rowers from Batavia, Geneva, Naperville, Barrington, Hinsdale and Wheaton, SCRC provides an alternative to traditional ball sports.

For more information contraction Meldrum at (630) 207-8337 or at chris@saintcharlesrowing.com.

–Suburban Chronicle news sources