SEAFORD, Del. – The City of Seaford is beginning a million dollar project to revitalize part of the Seaford River Walk.
This week, Seaford Mayor David Genshaw, Chesapeake Conservancy Board Chair Randall Larrimore, and other project partners broke ground on the old J.B. Robinson Oyster House site. The space will be used to stabilize the shoreline, build a living shoreline, and extend the Seaford River Walk with fishing nooks. By next summer, project partners say a performance deck, boat docking spots, and a kayak launch will also be complete.
“We are very excited this day is here-the kick-off of the first phase of the development of the Oyster House Park,” said Seaford Mayor David Genshaw. “This project features numerous components, which are important to the City of Seaford, such as giving public access to the Nanticoke River, promoting our Seaford history, driving economic revitalization to our downtown, all while promoting and protecting the environment of our Nanticoke River."
Mayor Genshaw thanked the Chesapeake Conservancy, along with Mt. Cuba, calling their leadership a blessing. The Chesapeake Conservancy says this phase of the project will be $1.2 million, paid through public and private resources including state transportation funds.
Chesapeake Conservancy Board Member Randall Larrimore, who grew up in the City of Seaford, said “I am thrilled that the first phase of this park is underway. It will give people a reason to go downtown and enjoy our wonderful river. This project will have an even bigger reverberating impact by inspiring visitors to help conserve the Nanticoke River and the Chesapeake Bay itself, adding to a growing movement to protect and restore 30 percent of the Chesapeake Bay watershed by 2030.”
Those with the project say the Seaford Oyster House Park will be an example of how conservation can help create economic opportunities.