USRowing and Princeton National Rowing Association Unveil $7.5 Million Caspersen Rowing Center Project

• Multi-Million Dollar Expansion and Renovation Project Marks a New Era for U.S. National Team Training
• State-of-the-art Facility to support every aspect of an athlete's regimen—from development and training to recovery
• Expansion and Renovations to be Completed in 2026

May 14, 2025 - USRowing and Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA) are proud to announce the Caspersen Rowing Center Project, a $7.5 million boathouse expansion and renovation initiative that will see the U.S. National Team take advantage of the new and upgraded facilities in 2026. The newly expanded Caspersen Boathouse will be a state-of-the-art training facility designed to elevate athlete performance and experience as they pursue excellence in international competition. 

The additions to the boathouse will transform the center into a hub for the country’s top rowers, and feature:

• A Weight Room: A cutting-edge, modern weight room allows athletes to do all necessary cross-training in one location.
• An Athlete Lounge: Dedicated space for athletes to relax and recover before, between, and after sessions.
• A Multipurpose Erg and Event Space: The new training room will add space for up to 68 rowing machines on top of the 30 currently available.

"This expansion is about investing in the future of U.S. rowing,” said Josy Verdonkschot, the McLane Family Chief High Performance Officer. “It delivers an environment where our athletes can train, recover, and study or work—all under one roof. Our mission is to support excellence at every level, and this facility is another big step to ensure our national team has the resources they need to succeed on the international stage."

Providing premier training venues that support every aspect of an athlete's regimen—from development and training to recovery—is a priority initiative for USRowing’s High Performance program. This will best position Team USA for success at the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and beyond.  

“We are very excited about partnering with USRowing in continuing to develop a training center worthy of the great athletes who represent our country.” Kris Grudt, Executive Director of the PNRA. “The expansion of the Caspersen Rowing Center will take the facility to the next level, and we look forward to seeing the amazing accomplishments of all of the rowers that train here.”

The Project will also support the growth of the Mercer Rowing Programs and other public programs for students in grades 7-12, broaden the scope of the outreach programs for students in the Trenton public schools, and better serve the training needs of the local collegiate and adult rowers. 

"It's a great point of pride for Mercer County that we host the U.S. National Rowing Team,” said Dan Benson, Mercer County Executive. “The expansion of the Caspersen Rowing Center is an important investment that will create new opportunities for Mercer residents from every background to discover the joy of rowing."

Several entities are actively supporting the funding of the expansion and renovation project, including USRowing, PNRA, the National Rowing Foundation, Mercer County, Lawrenceville School, Peddie School, and The Hun School.   

Fundraising efforts are ongoing. If you would like to support this project, please contact Lori McBride or Tracy Brown.

ABOUT USRowing

USRowing is the national governing body for rowing in the United States, dedicated to promoting and developing rowing at all levels, from juniors to elite competition. With a membership base of 1,400 member organizations and 77,000+ individuals, USRowing provides theoretical and practical education programs that strengthen and grow rowing while helping members achieve their goals. The national governing body works closely with international rowing bodies to represent the United States at the highest levels of competition, including the World Rowing Championships, Olympic and Paralympic Games.

ABOUT Princeton National Rowing Association

The Princeton National Rowing Association, a 501c3 organization, operates the Finn M.W. Caspersen Rowing Center located on the shores of Mercer Lake, Mercer County Park in West Windsor, New Jersey.  The Princeton National Rowing Association is dedicated to operating a world-class training site for our nation’s elite athletes, providing opportunities for area youth to excel in the sport of rowing and to expand rowing in the greater Mercer County area through community based programs.  PNRA runs the Mercer Junior Rowing Program that provides rowing opportunities for youth from over 30 Greater Mercer County area schools and the Mercer Masters Rowing Program.  The center is a home to the USRowing National and Olympic Teams, as well as rowing clubs and schools. PNRA is working to expand rowing opportunities in the Trenton area through various outreach activities for both youth and adults.