FENWICK ISLAND – The Town of Fenwick Island has formed a committee to identify and carryout future park improvements.
During last Friday’s Town of Fenwick Island Council meeting, Mayor Audrey Serio reported enhancements at the Fenwick Island Community Park have begun with the replacement of the fence.
The Town of Fenwick Island received a $10,000 Sussex County Economic and Infrastructure Grant and in turn the mayor formed an Ad Hoc Park Committee that inspected the park and reviewed the best ways to spend the funds.
The Fenwick Island Community Park, adjacent to Town Hall located at the corner of West Cannon St. and Coastal Hwy., houses playground equipment for young children, a gazebo and shuffleboard court. It was developed over a decade ago and was funded by both town and state grants.
Cannon Street Park located near the Public Works facility was recently completed last year and provides a basketball court, along with access for water sports, such as Standup Paddleboard (SUP) and kayaks.
Over time, the fence at the Community Park has become weathered and the committee decided to spend a large portion of the grant, about $7,500, on a new fence.
In doing so the park practically doubled in size when the committee also decided to fence in a grassy portion near Town Hall providing space for a new playground component for ages 5 to 12.
“That way we can have more children enjoy it,” Serio said.
The spring toys at the Community Park were found to be rusted and unsafe, and were removed. The remainder of the Sussex County Economic and Infrastructure Grant will purchase a new playground toy, a circular game table, for a younger age group that will be installed in about six weeks.
According to Serio, the gazebo has been found to be rotting and will need to be replaced. However, there are no plans to do so at this time.
“The sand box was also deemed unhealthy, so we have decided to repurpose it. The Garden Club would like to build a raised bed garden so the children can learn how to take care of and harvest a garden,” the mayor said.
Serio added the Garden Club will also be improving the Butterfly Garden at the Community Park by planting new bushes and adding new landscaping.
“The Ad Hoc Park Committee has found their job is more intensive than we had thought. Since our park was previously done, ADA and insurance factors have come to life. In thinking about what we may want to do, we have a lot of parameters to follow, so that is taking us extra time,” the mayor said. “We have decided that we will be coming up with a plan for that entire area because there are a lot of things that need to transpire over a period of time. Once we meet with additional advisors, the plan is to make a presentation to council as far as what we have learned and suggestions.”
The next park committee meeting is scheduled for May 6 at 10 a.m. at Town Hall.
“I am very excited about the parks here in Fenwick, and the committee taking on the opportunity to refresh and update the park,” Town Manager Merritt Burke said.
According to Burke, the Town of Fenwick Island will be applying for a Delaware Land & Water Conservation Trust Fund (DTF) grant that is due in June and the town will receive word of an award by October. If received, the funds will purchase the new playground component for the older age group to be placed in the new grassy portion of the park.