SEAFORD, Del. -- In partnership with the Chesapeake Conservatory, the City of Seaford is seeking much needed funding to support the next phases of the Oyster House Park Project.
The park is located along the banks of the Nanticoke River in Downtown Seaford. Phase One of the project, which includes a new bulkhead, planted living shoreline, extended boardwalk with fishing nooks, is already complete.
Phase Two, the construction of a natural green amphitheater, is now in jeopardy.
Economic Development Director Trisha Newcomer says an interceptor sewer line will have to be relocated on the property, in addition to other expenses for the multi-million dollar project.
"We will continue to seek, as we did with Phase One, multiple revenue sources, multiple grant opportunities, and budgeting opportunities, which is why the project takes as long as it does," says Newcomer. "So it's slated to take several years before it is fully completed. Certainly, we got to that sewer and that's a big, heavy expense to crack. We were very fortunate in that the federal delegation gave us an earmark, so we got funding there, but with anything, there's a process."
Seaford Museum curator Jim Blackwell says he understands the situation and appreciates the progress that the city has already made.
"We have a place," says Blackwell. "We have people that come down here and use the park. I'm happy to have what we have right now. People are able to come down here and fish right here. But to get it from where it's at now to where they want it to be, it's going to be several million dollars. It's very difficult."
Newcomer says the Seaford City Council approved for a firm to make changes to the project masterplan to accommodate funding needs.