New public park in Lewes’ future?
The buyers of the Kennedy property, a vacant parcel on Gills Neck Road north of the Freeman Highway bridge in Lewes, want to give part of the land to the City of Lewes for use as open space.
Chase Brockstedt and Eric Sugrue are listed as the contract purchasers of the property. Engineer Zach Crouch of Davis, Bowen and Friedel presented the proposal on their behalf at the May 22 mayor and city council workshop.
“No strings attached. That’s how simple it is,” Crouch said.
Under the proposal, the property would be divided into three parcels. Two single-family homes would be built on two 1-acre lots facing Gills Neck Road and the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. A shared driveway is proposed between the homes.
The third lot, which would be 1.5 acres located between the new homes and the Delaware River and Bay Authority’s maintenance facility, would be given to the city. The proposed gifted parcel is located along the Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail.
Crouch said it could become a pocket park, possibly with benches and a gazebo where riders could take a break.
Council members used words like “dumbfounded” and “shocked” to describe the offer.
“The care and love for this community, for people to look at ways to be generous like this that benefits the entire community, this is wonderful,” said Mayor Amy Marasco.
The only apparent stipulation is that the city cannot use the parcel for storage or a maintenance building.
The minor subdivision would require a recommendation from the Lewes Planning Commission and a public hearing by mayor and city council.
Mayor and city council did not make a decision on whether to accept the property.
Crouch said a phase one environmental study of the property is underway. He said they would share the results before council makes a decision.
Bill Shull has been covering Lewes for the Cape Gazette since 2023. He comes to the world of print journalism after 40 years in TV news. Bill has worked in his hometown of Philadelphia, as well as Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He came to Lewes in 2014 to help launch WRDE-TV. Bill served as WRDE’s news director for more than eight years, working in Lewes and Milton. He is a 1986 graduate of Penn State University. Bill is an avid aviation and wildlife photographer, and a big Penn State football, Eagles, Phillies and PGA Tour golf fan. Bill, his wife Jill and their rescue cat, Lucky, live in Rehoboth Beach.
