Lewes Canalfront Park receives $500K state grant for upgrades
Each year, several thousand residents and visitors come to Lewes Canalfront Park for a variety of seasonal activities, events, recreation and relaxation.
Since the park’s opening in August 2009, several areas have experienced significant deterioration, including the decking on which visitors stroll along the canal, benches throughout the park, and the entrance porch to the Net House.
In August, the State of Delaware responded to a request from the Greater Lewes Foundation and City of Lewes with a $500,000 Community Reinvestment grant to fund these important repairs.
In addition to events sponsored by Friends of Lewes Canalfront Park, visitors can enjoy tours of the Lightship Overfalls; use of a maritime-themed tots’ playground; pickleball, tennis and basketball at park courts; Little League baseball on adjacent fields; and use of the Net House for nonprofit meetings. The park has also become a popular site for weddings and other family celebrations.
The canalside decking will be fully replaced with sturdy garapa bamboo planks that have a significantly longer lifespan than the current cedar planks. Twelve new wooden benches will be installed, and the Net House porch and decking will also be replaced.
Joe Stewart, GLF board chair, thanked Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, and Rep. Steve Smyk, R-Milton, saying, “This is another great example of what can be achieved through public-private collaboration.”
Stewart noted the long history of the GLF working with the city and state to support important local projects including Canalfront Park and the new Lewes Public Library, boat ramp relocation to the end of Pilottown Road, bike/pedestrian trailhead construction, Lewes town clock installation, Go Fourth Lewes fireworks, and more.
Stewart said the GLF has also been entrusted by Delaware’s Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs with restoration of the Nassau School in Belltown and redesign of the De Vries Monument, the cradle of Delaware.
