Will Sussex County get into parks and recreation business?

Sussex County may do an about face when it comes to parks and recreation.

Even though possible expansion of parks and recreation options were included in the 2008 plan, officials shied away from even talking about it. But as officials discuss the 2018 comprehensive plan, debate over expanding parks and recreation opportunities has surfaced.

During a June 16 planning and zoning workshop, County Administrator Todd Lawson said talks are underway with an organization for a private-public effort to build a recreation facility that would be managed by the county. "We've not seen a request like this and council may support it," Lawson said.

McCormick Taylor consultant Alexis Williams said expansion of parks and recreation is a request that has surfaced as a priority among people commenting on the new plan. "We are hearing this from the public with numerous requests," said Commission Chairman Bob Wheatley. "It should be something for county government to consider," he said.

However, during the workshop as the commission explored possible strategies to be implemented in the plan, the idea of expanding parks and recreation options did not meet with much support. Commissioners said they would rather provide grants and support to other groups involved with parks and recreation.

Commissioners pointed to the James Farm Ecological Preserve as an example. The 150-acre parcel along Indian River Bay near Ocean View was donated to the county and has been managed since 1998 by the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays. The county provides $20,000 annually in its budget and also supports infrastructure projects.

Commissioner Kim Hoey Stevenson said she would support partnerships but not the county getting into the parks and recreation business. "We have to look at keeping costs down in a county that is pretty well recreated," she said.

"I think we can encourage and not take the lead role," added Commissioner Marty Ross, who has been an outspoken opponent of the county establishing a parks and recreation department.

Ross said public safety should take precedence in the county's budget. "My concern is that if we start spending millions of dollars on recreation, can we meet our critical needs of additional state troopers, paramedics and sewer and water? Funds are limited," he said.

Hoey Stevenson said she was also concerned with the use of public funds to compete with private enterprise and not cut out free-market enterprise.

"The question is should the county get in the parks and recreation business?" Wheatley asked, adding the plan should include language to identify what needs to be considered and explored.

One of the strategies in the 2008 plan was to evaluate the establishment of a parks and recreation department or look at using designated existing staff to lead a county parks and recreation effort. Another was to evaluate being an active financial partner in establishment of a public park, building an indoor recreation facility or a greenway trail.

The county maintains one park. Woodland Park, a 20-acre site that was used for dredge spoils from the Nanticoke River, is located about five miles west of Seaford. Lawson said the only current cost is cutting grass. He said local volunteers are restoring a former schoolhouse on the property.

The county's most ambitious parks initiative to date is on the drawing board. County officials have committed $1 million to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to convert more than 300 acres of farmland used for spray irrigation at the county's Wolfe Neck treatment center to a forest with trails and access to Cape Henlopen State Park and the Junction and Breakwater Trail.

Smaller spray heads will be used on the parcel that has been plagued with weather and farm-related issues over the years. Lawson said the county lost 125 days of spraying last year because of ag-related activities taking precedence. Until recently, the county leased the land but the farmer had a contract with the state. "It was hard for us to manage," Lawson said. "Now we are managing the ag activities."

Lawson said the county has entered into an agreement with the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays to plant trees on the parcel.

The commission's next workshop is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, July 14, in the county administration building. Included on the agenda is a discussion on the transportation chapter of the plan. Go to sussexplan.com for more information.

Talks underway with Sussex officials on complex

During a July 5 Georgetown Chamber of Commerce meeting, local businessman Joe Schell said the proposed eight-field, $3.5 million Sussex Sports Center along Sand Hill Road in Georgetown is the facility County Administrator Todd Lawson was talking about during a recent comprehensive plan workshop. He said it appears the county is willing to be a partner, and county council appears to be supporting the project at a high level, but a final decision on a possible collaboration has not been made. The project has not surfaced as a county council agenda item.

He confirmed what Lawson said that the goal would be to eventually turn management of the complex over to the county. "It would be the first parks and recreation effort by Sussex County," he said, adding its been a shortfall of county government not to respond to sports and recreation opportunities.

"Hopefully this will be a starter for Sussex County," Schell said.

Schell said initially the project would be funded, managed and operated by a new foundation. The goal would be to charge only enough for use of the fields to break even, he said.

With a donation of 56 acres of land by Schell, the effort is off the ground. Schell said the first phase of the complex would have eight Bermuda grass fields for field hockey, lacrosse and soccer. He said the foundation plans to host youth and adult tournaments, as well as provide fields for practice and games.

He said grass fields would be safer and cooler for play during the summer when most of the action at the complex would be taking place.

Schell said a 3-mile walking trail and pickleball courts are included in the master plan, which would be built as additional funds are raised.

Schell said there are limited options in the middle of the county for fields to play the three sports that would be offered at the complex. If approved by Georgetown officials, the complex would be open in early fall 2018, Schell said.

Schell said the economic impact of such a facility cannot be overlooked. He said Sports at the Beach along Route 9 near Georgetown – which offers numerous baseball tournaments from spring to fall – has made a dramatic impact on the local economy.

He said tournaments at the proposed facility would be coordinated with the Sports at the Beach schedule. In addition, he said, the complex would be a satellite facility for the DE Turf Sports Complex near Frederica.