Ron Bourne of Bourne Consulting Engineering outlined plans to renovate dock structures on the Esplanade’s “Boat Haven” on Tuesday, June 27 with members of the Esplanade Association, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Community Boating and the Union Boat Club. The docks scheduled for maintenance are Governor’s Landing, Commissioner’s Landing West, Commissioner’s Landing East, and the facility at Community Boating.

    Boat Haven is the area of the Esplanade that stretches from the Hatch Shell to the Community Boating building, protected from the Charles River by a protruding strip of grassy land. The “haven” provides a space for rowers, windsurfers and sailors to avoid choppy waves as they launch or dock. The increasingly dilapidated state of the aged structures at Community Boating, however, has generated interest from community officials and residents in a restoration project.

    “A primary interest here is the safety of experienced sailors and novices alike,” said Herb Nolan of the Solomon Fund, which provided funding for preliminary plans.
Charlie Zechel of Community Boating said that the proposed renovations are part of a group effort to renew the quality of Boat Haven for community members. The time has perhaps come, he said, for the complete replacement of existing structures.

    “Given the age and condition of the docks, many of which are 20 years old or older, I think it’s past the point where we can still consider replacing individual boards or making minor changes. I’m not an engineer, but I would be surprised if new docks weren’t a part of the plan. The current situation needs to be addressed its entirety.”
Bourne, accompanied by Charles Norris of Norris & Norris Associates and Paul McGinley of McGinley Kalsow & Associates, LLP, confirmed that work done on Boat Haven would involve the replacement of existing structures.

    “Community Boating has significant needs,” he said. “The facility needs more space for docking and better overall layout, as well as improved storage space.”
Although specific plans are yet to be finalized, Union Boat Club’s president Jene Clapp said that fundraising for the project will likely come from the private sector—from Back Bay and Beacon Hill residents—but will also rely on aid from state funding.

    “Since the docks belong to the state, but the Union Boat Club is used by residents as well, we’re going to have a mix of private and state funding,” he said. “The Department of Conservation and Recreation will help with this as well.”

    Charlie Zechel also said that the Solomon Fund aided in the presentation of initial concepts and provided seed money in order to generate feedback about the project.
Waterfront specialists Bourne Engineering have been hired to develop designs for the docks, storage areas, and landscape.

    The project will work in coordination with another Esplanade venture aimed at renovating many of the existing granite overlooks, including the Storrow Memorial, balustrades and several existing paths along the river. The Boat Haven project follows on the heels of a successful $700,000 restoration of the River Dock, which now features enhanced lighting and electrical capacity.