Upgrade of Olympic venue discussed

GAINESVILLE - Renovation of the Olympic venue on Lake Lanier was discussed at a recent meeting involving city and county officials and others, including some of those directly involved in bringing the 1996 rowing, canoe and kayak competition to Gainesville.

Jim Mathis, Jr., who chaired the group that spearheaded the local Olympic effort, confirmed Tuesday the venue needs major work that could cost close to $2 million.

Gainesville and Hall County are each being asked to chip in $150,000 a year toward the project. The Lake Lanier Rowing Club and the Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club would also help with the funding.

The Gainesville City Council said last September it wants to see the venue enhanced as a tourism booster for the area. (See earlier story. Link below.)

Another part of the plan calls for hiring a full-time manager whose duties would also include marketing the venue to various groups. Since the Olympics, it has been the site of several rowing, canoe, and kayak events involving groups from all over the country, including a number of colleges who send their teams here to train each year. Local groups - other than the rowing and canoe/kayak clubs - also make use of it.

Mathis also confirmed changes in the Gainesville/Hall '96 Foundation's bylaws, increasing the number of directors from 11 to 14 and setting up monthly, instead of quarterly, meetings.