Gloucester Harbor. Aldro Thompson Hibbard (1886-1972)
The City’s initiative to develop a boating facility is under study. The consultant will be making a public presentation at the October 3rd Waterways Board meeting. This is part of the planning process where people can provide input to the consultant before plans move forward.
It is necessary to support the Harbormaster with an upgraded and modernized office.
There is a need to provide adequate shore side accommodations for visiting boaters.
This is the opportunity for resident boating needs to be supported.
There are dories to row year round at St. Peter Square. More than 100 Gig rowers participate at Maritime Gloucester. SailGHS high school sailing team and summer sailing programs serve many children each year. There is a fair amount of boating access but there are gaps of access for young children, families and older folks. These established boating programs demonstrate that there is room to serve more residents in accessing the water.
Community boating clubs offer opportunities for family-friendly rowing and sailing. These centers are great community assets. They provide lessons, boats, equipment, restrooms/showers and other shoreside amenities in support of waterfront activities. Boating season begins as early as April and can comfortably continue well into October.
For examples of these centers in neighboring ports, look at New Bedford’s site communityboating.org. The Portland Maine area offers several clubs. See sailmaine.org. Sailsalem.org is Salem’s Community Boating club. Community Boating on the Charles River in Boston is the oldest center in the country.
Promoting economic development with community development rooted in community values serves to shape the character of a downtown center which residents can be connected to, not disenfranchised from.
To participate in this process you can attend the public meeting on Tuesday, Oct 3rd at 6:00 pm in City Hall.
Enduring Gloucester 
Readers appreciate your keeping us in the loop, the Harbor Loop, one could say. Our waterfront defines Gloucester geographically, economically and aesthetically. We owe it to our city to provide feedback and be involved.
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