Fort Myers considers proposal for public rowing center

A group of rowing enthusiasts proposed a new public rowing club on vacant city-owned property next to Riverside Community Center and Park in east Fort Myers. 

The center would focus on youth programs but also include adult rowers of all ages and skill levels, said Sergio Sztancsa, a rowing coach with the nonprofit De Camillis Rowing Academy, during a presentation to Fort Myers City Council on March 9. 

Organizers hope the facility could eventually host boat races or regattas similar to events hosted in cities such as Sarasota, where the long-running nonprofit Sarasota Scullers youth rowing program has built a strong following. 

“It really feeds the city and now Sarasota is this huge rowing hub,” Sztancsa said, adding that the sport has gained popularity in recent years with the 2023 movie The Boys in the Boat. 

Council member Diana Giraldo agreed. 

“It certainly can be an attraction of sorts, not just what it can do for the youth and development,” she said. 

Council member Liston Bochette also said he supports the concept. 

Sztancsa said the program could include rowing clinics, camps and team programs for middle school and high school students. The center also would be open to adult enthusiasts. 

“They can start late,” he said. “They can do it until their last days on earth.” 

The sport can build health, confidence, discipline and inner strength, Sztancsa said, while also potentially leading to college scholarships for competitive rowers. 

Plans for the site include floating docks that could serve as a shared launch point for other water activities, such as kayaking or dragon boat racing. 

“It keeps the energy very active in terms of sports and activity,” he said. 

Fort Myers city staff said a permit application to construct the docks was submitted to the Army Corps of Engineers in early November 2025. If approved without delays, the permit process could take up to 18 months, potentially extending to April 2027. 

Sztancsa estimates the rowing center would launch with about 100 youth and adult members. 

“Right now, these nomad players are out there looking for a place to call home,” he said. 

Sztancsa and partners at De Camillis Rowing Academy see the site along East Riverside Drive as an ideal location. 

“The fact that the location is very central makes a huge difference, it makes a huge impact,” he said. 

The city has not provided a cost estimate for the project. The proposal includes minor repairs to an existing shell building on the property that would be used for offices and equipment storage, City Manager Marty Lawing said. 

While the facility would include parking spaces for vehicles with boat trailers, city staff said it could affect parking availability at the adjacent Riverside Community Center, particularly during events or busy days at the nearby boat ramp.