Overfalls Foundation plans museum support building

The Overfalls Foundation wants to construct a small building that could have a big impact on the nonprofit organization’s mission to teach the maritime history of Lewes.

The 480-square-foot museum support building would replace a much smaller storage shed and fenced-in yard, located between the Monomoy pavilion and the basketball courts in Canalfront Park.

Mike Safina, president of the Overfalls Foundation, presented plans to the Lewes Parks and Recreation Commission May 20. The panel later voted unanimously to support the concept of the project.

Safina said the new structure would house the museum’s collection of artifacts and provide an education space. It would be an addition to the current 250-square-foot museum space next to the lightship, which he called inadequate to support the only national historic landmark in Sussex County.

“We aspire to be a world-class museum and be a leader in promoting the cultural significance of maritime history in our community,” Safina said.

Plans show the proposed building would have double doors that open out and doors at each end. It would be 40 feet long, 12 feet wide and just over 12 feet tall, about the same dimensions as the Monomoy pavilion.

“The design would be consistent with the maritime nature of the park, most notably the life-saving station,” Safina said.

He said the building would be completely maintained by the foundation.

Safina said they have two bids, one for $70,000 to $80,000, the other for more than $100,000. He said the need to meet new floodplain requirements has added about $30,000 to the project.

He said they could break ground in the fall if they receive all the necessary city permits and funding. He said they have applied for a grant to help pay for the project.

Parks and Recreation Commissioner Rodney Robinson, who oversees Canalfront Park, was not at the May 20 meeting, but sent an email expressing his support. 

Dave Shook of the Friends of Canalfront Park said his group also backs the Overfalls building. 

“Our goal is to make it a beautiful waterfront facility. We used to be Canalfront Park, historical society and Overfalls. Now, we’re all working together,” Shook said.