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A nonprofit group is partnering with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry to build a new structure to serve recreational human-powered boating on the Willamette River.

Portland Boathouse Inc. is proposing to erect a two-story, 29,000-square-foot boathouse on the north end of OMSI‘s campus. The facility, to be called the Portland River Center, would house rowing canoes, kayaks and other watercraft, classroom and instructional space for OMSI and office space for environmental group Willamette Riverkeeper.

Portland Boathouse’s lease of space in the RiverEast Center, at 1515 Water Ave., is due to end in August 2019. The looming timeline led boating enthusiasts to plan for a new facility.

The Portland River Center is included as part of OMSI’s master plan that has yet to be unveiled, River Center proponents said.

OMSI’s master plan, crafted by architecture firm Snohetta, is awaiting internal approvals, OMSI spokesman John Farmer said. The master plan sets forth a plan to redevelop vacant areas around OMSI that are owned by the museum.

There’s no formal agreement in place between OMSI and the Portland River Center, but OMSI has set space aside for river-related use, Farmer said.

鈥淲e’re super excited about it,鈥� he said.

The proposed Portland River Center site is within a designated greenway, but River Center supporters believe their river-related use would allow construction there. The supporters plan to meet with Bureau of Development Services staff to gauge the feasibility of building near the river.

鈥淚t’s designed to sit into the existing landscape there,鈥� said Patrick Quinton, a former economic development official who is volunteering in support of the Portland River Center. 鈥淚t’s a relatively long, narrow facility, and it tries to hug the river as much as possible.鈥�

Proponents are beginning to raise money for the project. Bernie Thurber, president of Portland Boathouse’s board, said the project would cost an estimated $10 million to $12 million.

Supporters plan to open the facility in 2020.

鈥淲e believe there’s a lot of support in the community for this kind of project,鈥� Quinton said. 鈥淚f we can demonstrate that private support, I think there’s an opportunity for public support as well.鈥�

The Portland River Center would serve as the home of Rose City Rowing Club, Station L Rowing Club, Wasabi Paddling Club and Portland State University club rowing teams. On a busy summer day, the existing Portland Boathouse facility serves about 1,000 river users, Thurber said.

An unresolved question is whether the proposed River Center would use an existing dock or a new one.

鈥淲e’re open to a variety of possibilities,鈥� Quinton said. 鈥淥bviously, the River Center needs a dock. If a new dock is going to be built, we would prefer it be as close to this facility as possible.鈥�

The river groups would step up to fund and build a new dock if necessary, Quinton said.

Broadly, the Portland River Center fits with an increased emphasis by city leaders on opening the river for more recreational use. Mayor Ted Wheeler has hosted much-publicized swims across the Willamette, and plans for future development at the South Waterfront call for a dock that would allow recreational access to the river.

Increased recreational use comes as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prepares to clean up a stretch of the river designated as a Superfund site.

鈥淭his is a project that takes advantage of that renewed interest in the river,鈥� Quinton said. 鈥淚 think Portland is kind of on the verge of a renaissance in terms of how people interact responsibly with the river.鈥�