It’s said that good things come to those who wait. In Rehoboth Beach, one of the things that was worth waiting for – almost 10 years – is now complete and will soon be open for public use. The canalside dock at Grove Park has been an exemplary study in vision and persistence and, very importantly, the kind of public-private partnerships that have brought so many notable public projects to Delaware’s Cape Region.

The docking facility brings one more entry point to Delaware’s premier beach resort, but without more motor vehicles vying for limited parking. Kayakers, small-boaters, paddleboarders and canoers will be able to come into the city by water and access all of its charms. The vertical, colorfully landscaped park, featuring deck overlooks at the top and dock at the bottom, provides one more attraction to the city’s Rehoboth Avenue gateway that already includes Grove Park, the Rehoboth Beach Museum and the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center.

All of those involved with the canal improvement association’s efforts to design the dock facility and park, shepherd it through all the public meetings and agency approvals, and raise the funding for construction, deserve congratulations and thanks for their accomplishment. The facility will be enjoyed by many generations over the next several decades as it enhances the canal’s attraction as a link connecting Lewes, Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach.

Our many parks, trails and facilities like the new dock continue to burnish the Delaware Cape Region’s reputation as an active outdoor recreation destination. The coronavirus pandemic has further illustrated the value of these facilities, which have given us welcome and affordable outlets for pent-up energy during a singularly bad time and will continue to provide health benefits for a long time to come.

Projects like the canal dock also help fuel the local economy, which in turn can generate important matching funds from the many successful businesses that understand the importance of contributing to the overall health and welfare of the community.