G2 Rowing: Reconnecting people to nature on the rivers

To Dan Wire, Fort Wayne’s rivers are more than just waterways. They’re lifelines to history, community, and nature. 

Wire is a Fort Wayne native and board member at G2 Rowing, a local organization that provides outlets for all ages and abilities to enjoy the water sport. But long before he was involved with G2 Rowing, he grew up by the river. As an adult, he worked on tour and tow boats on the Ohio, Mississippi, and Tennessee rivers, and in the Gulf, and spent decades working on river projects. More recently, he served as an advisor on riverfront development and commissioned and runs the replica canal boat, Sweet Breeze.

Wire’s passion for the rivers is rooted in their historical significance. He recalls how Fort Wayne’s rivers once served as vital trade routes for the Native peoples, connecting Fort Wayne to places as far away as Montreal. Over time, however, the rivers became neglected, used as sewers and cooling systems for factories. But in the early 2000s, Wire and a group of environmental visionaries began to reimagine the rivers as spaces for recreation and community engagement.

Their efforts culminated in high-profile initiatives like Promenade Park on the riverfront and the creation of G2 Rowing, which Wire describes as a “community rowing concept” modeled after Boston’s Community Rowing, Inc. This group engages with athletes with disabilities, veterans, and area youth.

He and other volunteers are working to foster a deep connection between people and Fort Wayne’s three rivers. In the process, G2 Rowing has created opportunities for individuals of all ages to experience the beauty and vitality of these natural resources, without any prior rowing experience.

“We’ve got 14-year-olds and 84-year-olds and everybody in between out on the river rowing,” he says.

Similarly, G2 Rowing offers programs for all ages and skill levels, starting with middle school camps that introduce young people to the basics of rowing. High school students can join the competitive juniors program. Adults are eligible to participate in the masters program, which caters to both recreational and competitive rowers.

No matter one’s age, rowing boosts physical benefits, such as improved cardiovascular health, endurance, and strength. Head Juniors Coach and Director of Rowing Cody Hough has had firsthand experience with the sport’s transformative power on a few levels. 

“I got into rowing in eighth grade,” he says. “I rowed all through high school and college, and now I’m coaching the juniors and overseeing how our juniors and masters programs work.”

Hough’s role involves everything from teaching proper rowing technique to planning practices and regattas. He also emphasizes the unique connection rowing fosters with nature. 

“When you’re in a rowing boat, you’re closer to the water,” he says. You feel like you’re on the same level as the ducks or fish.”

Through experiences like what Hough describes, G2 Rowing aims to inspire environmental stewardship. Wire recalls a conversation with a state conservationist who noted that students involved in outdoor sports are more likely to become advocates for the environment. 

“That’s exactly what G2 Rowing is doing,” says Wire. “We’re putting people out in nature, helping them experience the rivers firsthand.”

Hough’s work as a seasonal riparian manager for the city complements his role at G2 Rowing. 

“I started working on the rivers to help clean them up and make them safer for everyone,” he says. “It opened my eyes to the importance of conserving the beauty of the rivers, removing invasive species, and making the waterways more accessible.”

This dual perspective has deepened Hough’s appreciation for the rivers and their role in the community. 

“Rowing and working on the rivers go hand in hand,” he says. “It’s a cool experience, and I wish more people knew about it.”

The location of G2 Rowing’s home base might help its cause of visibility. Located in Shoaff Park —  the busiest park in Fort Wayne — G2 Rowing benefits from a strong partnership with the city government. For example, G2 Rowing and Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation partnered to build a launch and boat facility at Shoaff Park on the northeast side. Rowers can store boats and equipment in a secure location. Plus, G2 Rowing now has a centralized location for launching boats for practice, competition, and recreational rowing. 

Rowing is just one entry point into a relationship with local waterways, however. Wire believes that the more people engage with the rivers — through activities like canoeing and kayaking — the more they’ll advocate for their preservation. 

“Water is the tonic of life,” he says, quoting his grandfather, a Maine sea captain. “Whether you’re working on it, enjoying it, or just being near it, people intrinsically enjoy being around water.”For more information about G2 Rowing and how to get involved, visit g2rowing.org.