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Dragon boat races proposed in Lewes

Organizers must agree not to damage city park
May 24, 2013

Lewes Mayor and City Council were close to pulling the plug and sinking a dragon boat racing event after council raised numerous questions about damage the race could cause.

Dragon boat race organizers, representing Sussex Academy Foundation, were  Krista Griffin, Gina Derrickson, Stuart Griffin and Joe Schell, who each took turns at the podium during the May 20 mayor and council meeting to answer questions and provide details about how the event would work.

 
         
 

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City officials’ primary concern is the crowds dragon boat race events draw and the possibility that Canalfront Park could sustain significant damage.

Using a slide show presentation, Krista Griffin said a dragon boat is 46 feet long and has a crew of 20 – 10 rows of two paddlers, a drummer who sits in front and provides a beat for rowing cadence, and a steersman who uses a sweep oar to control the boat.

Griffin said event organizers are working to recruit racing teams from local businesses and nonprofit organizations to compete. The races are scheduled to start around 11 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 15.

She said organizers want 30 to 40 teams to participate. Mayor Jim Ford said 30 teams would be 660 people, and there would be an unknown number of spectators.

Councilman Ted Becker said he recently saw a dragon boat race event in Washington, D.C., and spoke to organizers.

“They said a first-time event could draw upward of 3,000 people,” Becker told Griffin. She said the Lewes race would be a “modified” event and would not draw crowds like races in D.C., Philadelphia or New York.

Council continued to raise concerns about Canalfront Park damage and appeared set to torpedo the plan.

Finally, Joe Schell told the panel the park would handle the event without any problems. “The park was created to bring people together. If the grass gets a little beat up,  it’ll be fine,” he said.

In the end, the panel voted 4-1 to approve the race if organizers write an agreement acceptable to city officials stating they will pay to repair any damage the event causes and submit the agreement before the end of May.

Councilwoman Bonnie Osler voted against approval.

 

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