A bill authored by Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) that would allow the Syracuse Chargers Rowing Club to lease over 2 acres of waterfront park land on Onondaga Lake from Onondaga County, has passed both the Assembly and Senate (A.7743).

“Many in our community rely on the Chargers to meet the area’s rowing needs and it’s important that this club has the resources available to fit the growing popularity of the club,” Assemblyman Stirpe said. “More schools in our community would like to field rowing teams and existing teams want to expand their current teams to include boys. A new Chargers Rowing Club boathouse would allow for these team additions and expansions.”

The bill would allow the Chargers to lease the land needed to build a bigger boathouse to meet the needs of the community. The club has a long and proud tradition of sport rowing in Central New York. It serves many organizations and institutions in the region including; Onondaga County and the county parks system, the city of Syracuse and many area high schools. Currently, the Chargers operate out of a boathouse in Onondaga Lake Park, which is owned by the county. The club, in partnership with the county, has developed plans to build a new boathouse that will be located near the existing boathouse.

“We frankly cannot keep up with the demand of the community with the size of our current boathouse. Over half of the club’s fleet of rowing shells is stored outside during the summer. We have no more room,” Joe Bufano, president of the Syracuse Chargers Rowing Club said. “I would like to thank Assemblyman Stirpe for helping us with this legislation so we can better serve all the rowers of our region.”

“In recent years these rowing teams have provided the opportunities for many local girls to receive athletic scholarships. In fact, the largest number of Division I athletic scholarships, for women, are in crew,” Assemblyman Stirpe noted. “Without these scholarships, many of the girls would not be able to afford college tuition. Crew allows them to realize the college dream.”