The Rowing Group is working to bring a world-class rowing and paddling race course to Chicago, which would include an Olympic level 2000 meter competitive venue as well as a high-performance training center. By collaborating with economic development programs and public sector projects like the Millennium Reserve, the Rowing Group will help to quickly initiate substantial, positive changes to Lake Calumet and to provide a venue for alternative sports like rowing and paddling.
Lake Calumet, in association with the Millennium Initiative Project, has the potential to be a world-class competitive venue for international level rowing and paddling competitions. Chicago currently does not have a straight 2000m water race course, something that is required in order for Chicago to host regional and international level contests like World Championships, Pan Am Games, and the Olympics.
Lake Calumet is an excellent piece of water that has amazing potential to become a world-class venue for rowing and paddling. Its shallow depth at certain areas restricts larger motor boats and shipping tankers from accessing the northern section of the lake. At the same time, these conditions are ideal for rowing and paddling competitions and would help Chicago establish itself as a true center of alternative sports like rowing and paddling.
Lake Calumet is also situated perfectly in Chicago, located directly next to the highway system, which benefits visiting teams who would travel to Chicago for competitions. The lake is also located on the Lake Michigan side of the O’Brien Locks, keeping access to the lake simple without the delay of waiting for access to the locks. In addition, Lake Calumet is located Lake Michigan side of the locks, eliminating vulnerability to height adjustments of the Chicago River System, something that has become an issue for some local programs based on river side of the locks. In addition, the Lake Calumet's "untouched" condition, pertaining to past public access options offered previously, makes this lake a “blank canvas’, a perfect candidate for Chicago’s own world-class venue for rowing and paddling.
During the 2016 Olympic bid for Chicago, a rowing and paddling venue was proposed for the Lakefront around the Du Sable Harbor area, which runs between Navy Pier and the Shedd Aquarium. This former proposed venue, while a unique location for competition, did not have the same positive attributes that Lake Calumet currently has at its disposal. In addition to all the benefits of an international level competitive venue in Chicago, benefits includes the ability to establish a permanent home for community programs in rowing and paddling, something that would have been difficult with the continued desire to use Du Sable Harbor as a Chicago Park District sailing marina.
It is understood that Lake Calumet will need to undergo some kind of environmental remediation and adjustment to its shoreline before it is opened to the public, mainly due to past industrial endeavors that took place there. Because of this need, requesting to modifying the layout of the lake is small ways to develop the 2000m race course should prove to be an acceptable condition of the development of the lake.
Lake Calumet will also be an integral part of Chicago’s Master Plan for alternative sports like rowing and paddling. Coupled with four new Chicago River boathouses planned for construction, as well as other already existing rowing and paddling venues, Chicago will have an exceptionally superior sporting infrastructure that will be an asset to the city.
Requirements:
- 2200 meter total length
- 800 meter total width
- Uniform depth throughout
- Ability to temporarily separate Lake Calumet from surrounding river system during competition, eliminating potential water flow, which could affect competition.
- Albano Race Course – A removable, temporarily fully buoyed race course system with 8 lanes.
For more information, contact Mark Carroll with the Rowing Group. mark@rowinggroup.com – 773.354.6311 |
