Lake Quannapowitt Boating Will Be Run By Boys & Girls Club

WAKEFIELD, MA — Boating on Lake Quannapowitt will be run by the Boys & Girls Club of Stoneham and Wakefield, which was chosen over the business that had run the operation for well over a decade.

Town Manager Steve Maio and Recreation Director Dan McGrath were among those going to bat for the Boys & Girls Club, which was awarded the boat rental concession over Boston Outdoor Recreation at Monday's Town Council meeting. Those two were the only entities to submit bids.

"We agree that the best fit for the town is the Boys & Girls Club," Maio said.

Among his reasons: The Boys & Girls Club's hourly rental fees would be lower than Boston Outdoor Recreation's, while Wakefield residents will get a 25 percent discount; its local presence; and its waterfront experience off the coast of Marblehead.

Maio also said the Boys & Girls Club's proposal used the word "community" in its application more than Outdoor Boston Recreation did.

"Lake Quanapowitt is Wakefield's front lawn," the front page of the Boys & Girls Club's application said. "It is iconic in its cultural relevance, an economic driver for our downtown, a center for community and family events, and an environmental asset to be protected for generations."

The Boys & Girls Club's bid was $2,500 for one year, but Maio said a requirement is there be a town option for additional years, while the Outdoor Boston Recreation bid was $9,000 for three years.

The Boys & Girls Club offered a rate of $12 per hour for a single kayak rental and the 25 percent discount for Wakefield residents. Outdoor Boston Recreation rates for a single kayak rental were $18 per hour, but no local discount was mentioned in the bid.

Outdoor Boston Recreation was, however, willing to discuss such a discount, Councilor Ed Dombrowski said. Dombrowski was the lone dissenting vote in the Council's 5-1 decision.

Dombrowski said he wholly supports and even fundraises for the Boys & Girls Club, but this is not their area of expertise.

"This is not the mission of the Boys & Girls Club ... This is operating a business on the shores of Lake Quannapowitt," he said.

But Dombrowski's pitch failed to gain traction.

Maio suggested the Council make it so the Recreation Department approves all programs at the site, a certified lifeguard is always on duty and no sailboats will be rented, among other conditions.

"Providing recreational and educational opportunities for children and families is at the core of our mission. We see this as an opportunity to create a real community boating asset for the people of Wakefield," Boys & Girls Club CEO Adam Rodgers said in a release.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi. Subscribe to Wakefield Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.