Rehoboth committee to evaluate commercial use of Boardwalk

Is the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk becoming too commercialized? The city’s committee for Boardwalk oversight has begun gathering information to find out.

The conversation wasn’t long, but during a March 22 meeting, Commissioner Jay Lagree, committee chair, said there are times when the Boardwalk is impassable because of events. There’s a real impact, he said.

Committee members thought the discussion would be a good exercise.

Committee member Frank Cole, Atlantic Cycles owner, said it’s tough when there are road races on the Boardwalk every weekend because it hurts his business.

Police Chief Keith Banks said the Boardwalk is booked through the summer, and organizations are on a waiting list in case something becomes available.

Banks said getting a list of permitted events won’t capture the true amount because there are awareness walks on the Boardwalk and weddings on the beach that take place without permits.

The Boardwalk is a public space, so it’s tough to say no, but it would be good if organizers contacted the city so officials are aware of events taking place, said Banks. As for the weddings, sometimes it’s just a couple people and a minister at the end of the day when there are no lifeguards, he said.

In the end, the committee decided to gather as much information on use of the Boardwalk as they can find – races, weddings, walks, events, businesses, anything – before making any recommendations.

No change in bike times on Boardwalk

During its January meeting, the committee had discussed ending allowed Boardwalk bike riding time at 9 a.m. during the summer season, May 15 to Sept. 15, because the Boardwalk continues to get more crowded earlier in the day. Currently, there is a daily prohibition on Boardwalk bike-riding after 10 a.m.

Ultimately, during its February meeting, the committee decided to recommend that city commissioners make no change in the end of daily bike-riding time. Instead, the committee recommended more safety education.

Lagree reported back that Mills agreed with the committee and no change in time was necessary.

Delaware Avenue comfort station work continuing

During the committee meeting, Public Works Director Kevin Williams said construction work on the Delaware Avenue comfort station will continue past Easter.

City commissioners unanimously approved a contract worth approximately $475,000 for Smyrna-based Kent Construction Company in October. Work began soon afterward and was to be completed by the end of April. When work is completed, two family rooms and seven changing rooms will have been added to the street-facing side of the building.

Beach replenishment taking place

Williams also told the committee that Rehoboth’s beach will be replenished again by the Army Corps of Engineers. In early March, Congress approved a $1.5 trillion spending package that includes about $12 million for beach replenishment at Cape Henlopen, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach and Fenwick Island.

In an email March 24, Ed Voigt, Public & Legislative Affairs chief for the Philadelphia office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said a definitive timeline has not been established. It’s reasonable that a contract covering both projects – Rehoboth/Dewey and Fenwick – would be in place by the end of this calendar year, with actual construction getting underway in winter or spring of 2023, he said.

As for cubic yards and total cost, Voigt said it’s too early to tell because there are too many variables between now and then.

Beach replenishment is a joint effort of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, with construction cost-shared 65 percent federal, 35 percent state. The project is designed to reduce storm damage to infrastructure. It was initially undertaken in 2004 and has been repeated five times – 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016 and 2019, when approximately 486,000 cubic yards of sand were pumped along the shoreline.