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Positive vision for Route 1 corridor

November 17, 2016

"The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The next best time is tomorrow."President George H. W. Bush, as quoted by Ed McMahon

With this editorial, we continue to promote ideas presented by Urban Land Institute's Ed McMahon during a recent forum in Rehoboth Beach focusing on qualities of successful communities.

When McMahon focused on ways to improve Route 1 - the area's Main Street between Nassau and Dewey Beach - one suggestion was extensive landscaping. No surprise there, really. Landscaping softens most environments, and Route 1 with its maze of commercial uses and billboards could use more softening than the few exceptional areas of existing landscaping offer.

So, more trees. There are always places where a tree can be planted here and there with - especially over time - amazing results. The new sidewalk loop - seven miles in each direction - offers an almost perfect opportunity for focused tree planting. An inventory of potential locations for trees or shrubs along the sidewalk loop would doubtlessly reveal dozens of possibilities.

Not only would the trees add an important aesthetic element to the overall friendliness and attractiveness of Route 1, they would provide oases of shade for pedestrians walking and waiting for buses, and cyclists needing a break from that otherwise sunbaked, concrete environment.

Put a few trees and shrubs together with benches and covered bus stops, and Route 1 could become home to several mini parks adding tremendously to our Main Street's appeal.

With so many civic-minded service organizations and retirees in our area, it's not tough to envision each mini park being maintained by a different group, not unlike the groups that join Delaware Department of Transportation's Adopt-a-Highway program to keep our roadways cleaned of litter.

So critical to the cultural, recreational and commercial vitality of our region, Route 1 has tremendous potential for positive improvements. Starting with a few trees and benches, we could transform our most unifying transportation corridor from a highway to a parkway, and benefit the quality of life for all who live and visit here.

 

  • Editorials are considered and written by Cape Gazette Editorial Board members, including Publisher Chris Rausch, Editor Jen Ellingsworth, News Editor Nick Roth and reporters Ron MacArthur and Chris Flood. 

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