At a February meeting with Fairmount Park and the Philadelphia police to plan events, we were informed that they couldn’t assure us access to the Canoe Club on Friday, July 4. No problem on Saturday or Sunday, just Friday, the 4th. Kelly Drive is the main route of access and egress for emergency vehicles into and out of the city, particularly the Art Museum area. With all the 4th of July activity around the Art Museum, Kelly Drive is closed and no parking permitted is along Boathouse Row. That’s an inconvenience for the local people but not a show stopper.

Last year the 4th fell on a Wednesday, so did not affect the regatta. But local Homeland Security decided a few days before July 4 that Kelly Drive had to be completely closed off because of a heightened threat alert. This year, the Park and police are saying it is out of their hands and they won’t know until a few days in advance, but it may not be possible to get to the Canoe Club on Friday, July 4. I was able to speak to a senior official at local Homeland Security and she confirms this.

So, we are not able to hold the Independence Day Regatta on the 4th of July because of national security issues. Great irony, huh?

We will return to the traditional Friday, Saturday & Sunday format and bring back the dash races, mixed doubles, parent/child races, and octuples sculls in 2009.

Clete