Rehoboth eyes Boardwalk historic status

A new Rehoboth Beach task force created to get the city’s Boardwalk recognized historically by the Delaware Public Archives and the National Register of Historic Places met for the first time March 24.

The city’s former boardwalk and beach committee recommended the city pursue the historic designations nearly two years ago. There are three levels of historic designation. From least to most tedious, they are a state historic marker, as a national historic place and as a national historic landmark. The city is pursuing the first two.

Mayor Stan Mills and Rehoboth Beach Museum Director Heidi Nasstrom Evans ran the meeting, which was primarily an opportunity for members to meet each other and for the baseline to be set on the task.

In addition to Mills and Evans, the task force includes a variety of stakeholders, all of whom have professional or personal experience working through the historic renovation or designation process.

Residents and property owners include Andrea Hoffman, Wesley Combs, Christopher Bright, Jim Ellison and Wayne Neale. Businesses abutting the Boardwalk are represented by Atlantic Bicycles owner Frank Cole. Representing the Village Improvement Association, which has already spearheaded a number of historic markers around the city, are Kate McKenzie and, if she’s unavailable, Rose Marie Patin. Sussex County Historic Preservation Planner Daniel Parsons is also participating. Finally, there are two non-voting task force members participating, Michael Burton and Mason Preddy. Mills is also not a voting member.

Following the introductions, Mills had a slideshow prepared that included pictures from the Boardwalk being used for recreation over the decades, old buildings that used to be near it and storm damage that was repaired over the years.

Evans then led an exercise centered around task force members giving their opinion on what the Boardwalk means to Rehoboth. Not all the specifics were the same, but generally, everyone said the Boardwalk had been the focal point of the city ever since its earliest days as a religious retreat, which is why it's always been maintained and rebuilt after storm damage.

The Boardwalk has been a consistent center of the community in terms of commerce, recreation and entertainment, said Cole.

“You can’t think of Rehoboth without thinking of the Boardwalk,” said Cole. “The Boardwalk, with the possible exception of the beach, is the most important asset the city has historically. It’s provided outdoor recreation and entertainment dating back to the 19th century.”

Moving forward, Mills said the task force will likely meet once a month for the next few months, and then on an as-needed basis once applications have been submitted.