Although Lewes Mayor and City Council voted to officially name the city’s two public beaches in October 2021, there was no signage last summer formally recognizing the new names. 

That’s no longer the case, as the city recently installed signs at Savannah Beach and Johnnie Walker Beach to clearly identify each public recreational area. 

The renaming process started in 2021, when Beach Commissioner Kay Carnahan brought the idea to the parks and recreation commission. Savannah Beach was an obvious choice for the former Beach 1, with its location at the end of Savannah Road. 

Johnnie Walker Beach was also a relatively easy choice. Knowing the history of the area formerly known as Beach 2 as a popular place for Black families, Carnahan took her idea to the city’s African American heritage commission. The commission quickly determined the beach should be named after Johnnie Walker, who operated a successful restaurant at the beach for many years during the segregation era. 

A ceremony recognizing Johnnie Walker Beach and its history was held in September 2022. The event drew dozens of people, including a few of Walker’s relatives.