Jones Ferry River Boathouse
The City of Holyoke purchased the Jones Ferry Marina in 2003 to “create a riverfront recreation facility and improve public access to the Connecticut River below the Holyoke Dam.” This mandate included the community boathouse. The main section of the building houses a 3 bay boat storage area, with room for several 60’ 8-oared shells, smaller shells and kayaks. A 1,700 sf heated section facing the River includes offices, locker rooms for men and women and a community meeting space. Noteworthy environmental aspects include a super-insulated building envelope, efficient heating and energy recovery systems, solar hot water heating and vegetated roofs on low slope segments. The latter demonstrates a strategy to limit storm water runoff in a sensitive riverfront location.
