Politics & Government

NPS Responds to Jack's Boathouse Conflict

The National Park Service is seeking to create a new contract for a boathouse operation on the Georgetown waterfront.

The National Park Service (NPS) is moving forward with plans to create a new contract for a boat rental operation on the Georgetown waterfront as the agency explores recent allegations by current tenant Jack's Boathouse that NPS does not have jurisdiction over the property.

"We believe that we have full jurisdiction of the Georgetown waterfront park," Jennifer Mummart, the acting NPS associate regional director for communications in the national capital region, told Patch.

But Friday, Jack's owner Paul Simkin and his attorney Charles Camp told Patch they believe NPS no longer has jurisdiction over the Georgetown waterfront and that control actually should have reverted to the District government years ago.

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"We are looking into it," Mummart said.

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She said she was not "privy" to any conversations that might be going on between the District and federal goverments and could not comment other than to say her agency was reviewing relevant documents.

NPS issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a contract to operate a boat rental operation at 3500 K Street on Friday.

Mummart said a new contract was necessary because Simkin's name does not appear on the Jack's Boathouse lease, which dates back to 1973 and which the agency inherited when the District transferred the waterfront property to NPS in the 1980s.

Mummart said when NPS discovered the lease issue, the agency realized there was "no legal way" to enter into a longer contract with Simkin.

Instead NPS is seeking a concession contract, which is "consistent" with how NPS operates in other parks, explained Mummart.

Responses are due Feb. 6 and NPS plans to award a contract by the end of that month.

Patch asked if the plans to release the non-motorized boathouse zone feasibility study played any part in the quick turnaround on the contract, Mummart said, "I don’t know that it is influenced at all by that."

Mummart said the NPS wants to make sure there is a vendor in place, whether it is Simkin or someone else, so that visitors to the waterfront have a place to rent boats and to enjoy the Potomac River this spring.

When asked whether the jurisdiction question might impact the new contract timeline, Mummart said, "There’s no talk of delaying the process."

Related content:

Jack's Boathouse Fighting Potential Ouster by NPS

Waterfront Boathouse Zone Plan Pending Jack's Boathouse Resolution


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