Temple: $5M fix for boathouse will save crew teams

Temple: $5M fix for boathouse will save crew teams

Published Feb. 24, 2014 6:51 p.m. ET

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Temple University will spare men's and women's crew from the chopping block after $5.5 million was pledged to restore a city boathouse.

Temple still plans to cut five other teams to address financial concerns and gender-fairness issues.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says the city will spend $2.5 million and the Lenfest Foundation another $3 million to restore the Schuylkill River facility.

Temple will then have a long-term lease of the century-old East Park Canoe House on Boathouse Row.

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Temple's crew teams have been using tents and portable bathrooms for the past five years.

Philanthropist H.F. ''Gerry'' Lenfest serves on Temple's board of trustees, which voted Monday to restore the rowing programs.

The other sports being cut are baseball, softball, men's gymnastics and men's indoor and outdoor track and field.

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