Rehoboth named a top 10 Boardwalk
National Geographic has named Rehoboth Beach’s Boardwalk as one of the country’s 10 best.
The list was compiled for the travel section of National Geographic’s website. Representatives from National Geographic said Rehoboth was selected because it was a highly visited, highly popular Boardwalk. National Geographic also cited Rehoboth’s vintage feel and yellow pine walkway.
The list also included Atlantic City, Ocean City, Md., and Wildwood, N.J.
Mayor Sam Cooper said, “They’ve just recognized what we’ve known for a long time. We got a sweet spot there in that it’s not overcommercialized but it’s got enough commercial. I think Funland is just a huge, huge attraction on the Boardwalk. The south end you can just stroll. The middle part you have the businesses.”
The city started its rebuild of the Boardwalk in late 2008-early 2009, with a four-block section from Rehoboth Avenue to Laurel Street, which the city paid for. The remainder of the project was completed in early 2010 using around $6 million in federal stimulus dollars. Commissioner Stan Mills chaired the city’s Boardwalk Committee – Cooper was also on the committee – that shepherded the project through the engineering and construction process.
“It is wonderful for the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk to be recognized as one of the top 10 Boardwalks in the U.S. The city takes great pride in its one-mile long wood Boardwalk which just passed its two-year anniversary date for completion of a total rebuild from the ground up and is enjoyed by tens of thousands of walkers, joggers, bicyclists and beach goers year round,” Mills said.
Mills said with the Boardwalk rebuild, the city was able to provide additional amenities such as new foot showers and shower towers and additional loading capacity that helps emergency vehicles and increases pedestrian safety.
“Many agencies partnered in the rebuild and deserve credit for the final product, and now city personnel deserve credit for providing a high level of maintenance that keeps our Boardwalk the jewel of Delaware and, according to National Geographic, of the nation,” he said.
To see the list, go to http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/us-boardwalks/#page=1
