There are lingering questions about the future of Georgetown鈥檚 C&O canal boat tours, after the National Park Service announced it鈥檚 ending its philanthropic agreement with the nonprofit .
Last month, NPS said the agreement is being terminated effective April 29. However, in a statement, the agency said the move doesn鈥檛 鈥渃hange the operation of the canal boat in Georgetown.鈥�
D.C.鈥檚 government paid for the construction of the canal boat and Georgetown Heritage, the nonprofit that works to improve National Parks in Georgetown, owns it. The organization operates the boat under a separate agreement with the Park Service.
Maggie Downing, Georgetown Heritage鈥檚 executive vice president, said the group鈥檚 ownership of the boat isn鈥檛 in jeopardy, 鈥渂ut what it will take for us to be able to raise the money and keep this organization going is certainly going to be challenging in the next couple of years,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e do remain committed to owning and operating the boat,鈥� Downing said. 鈥淏ut I think it may be a difficult path getting there.鈥�
The nonprofit will have some time to work toward that goal. The boat won’t be operating for the next two years while repairs are made to the canal. The soonest the boat would be able to return to the canal is 2026, Downing said.
About 40,000 people have participated in the tours over the two seasons they were offered, according to Downing.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a really leisurely experience to look out and see Georgetown from a different vantage point, and to learn about the history, to hear the stories of the people who built the canal and who lived their lives along the canal,鈥� Downing said.
Georgetown Heritage operates the boat under a cooperating agreement with the Park Service. The Philanthropic Partnership Agreement allowed the nonprofit to fundraise for projects in the park.
The group had plans to make accessibility improvements along the towpath, and to install 鈥渞ecreational opportunities down at the aqueduct, a dock for canoeing and kayaking along the canal,鈥� Downing said.
鈥淭he cancellation of the Philanthropic Partnership Agreement really puts the future of any of those improvements to the park in danger,鈥� Downing said.
In its March statement, the Park Service said terminating a philanthropic agreement is rare and happens 鈥渙nly after exhausting all other avenues to try to resolve the issues.鈥�
鈥淭here have been multiple violations of the Philanthropic Partnership Agreement that have led to irreconcilable differences in the partnership, making it impossible to maintain the collaborative relationship necessary to accomplish mutually identified goals as required by the PPA,鈥� the Park Service said in a statement to 蜜桃视频app. 鈥淕eorgetown Heritage has promoted actions that disregard the NPS mandate to protect park resources.鈥�
The agreement, Downing said, was terminated because 鈥渃urrent leadership at the park no longer wants to pursue these projects.鈥�
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