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Ribbon cut at new Lewes library pavilion

Venue brings music, theater, lectures to outdoor stage
Jill DiPaolo, Lewes Public Library director, cuts the ribbon on the new $1.6 million outdoor pavilion June 1. She is surrounded by library board members, staff and community leaders. The facility is the only outdoor library pavilion in Delaware. BILL SHULL PHOTOS
Bill Shull
June 6, 2025

All that’s left now is to cue the music.

The Lewes Public Library cut the ribbon on its new $1.6 million pavilion June 1. It is the only outdoor library pavilion in Delaware.

The 3,000-square-foot structure is located behind the library, facing Stango Park. It seats 140 people.

Jill DiPaolo, library director, said it’s time for the public to share what has been a labor of love for the last four years.

“We’re always going to be about books, buy literacy is also about storytelling. It’s storytelling we do with the performing arts. When we share our experiences through music, theater and lectures, we’re sharing literacy with the community,” DiPaolo said.

The library will kick off its inaugural Summer Scape series with chamber music by the Serafin Ensemble at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 11.

There are 15 live performances, including concerts, dance performances and history presentations, scheduled through Sept. 14.

All performances are free. For the full schedule, go to lewes.lib.de.us.

“This is going to be a place that we’re going to gather in often. I think having it outside just adds a special element, where imagination has no roof or walls,” said Lewes Mayor Amy Marasco.

DiPaolo said they will only be using the pavilion for library programming this year, as they learn what it takes to operate it. But, she said, next spring they plan to rent it out to outside organizations, the same way they rent their meeting rooms.

Most of the funding for the pavilion came from the American Rescue Plan Act and the state bond bill.

The Friends of the Lewes Public Library donated $50,000 in support of the construction. The City of Lewes will reimburse the library $5,000 in maintenance costs for the first year and $10,000 in future years, according to DiPaolo.

Groome Church recently donated $5,000 in support of the Summer Scape series.

Chanta Wilkinson, library board president, announced a new $5,000 donor challenge: The first 20 gifts of $250 or more by first-time library donors will get a matching $250 gift from longstanding library supporters Gavin and Lee Braithwaite.

 

Attendees at the June 1 ribbon cutting mingle under the pavilion. The first of 15 Summer Scape series performances will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 11.
Hugh Leahy, Lewes Public Library trustee emeritus, offers a toast at the ribbon-cutting event. He thanked everyone who had a hand in making the facility a reality.
Lewes Mayor Amy Marasco said the outdoor pavilion adds a special element for imagination. Marasco joined other leaders for a photo. Shown are (l-r) Marasco, Jill DiPaolo, Lewes library director; Candace Vessella, Friends of Lewes Library president; and Trina Brown-Hicks, Lewes City Council member.
Chanta Wilkinson, library board president, speaks at the ribbon cutting. She announced a new $5,000 donor challenge: The first 20 gifts of $250 or more by first-time library donors will get a matching $250 gift from longstanding library supporters Gavin and Lee Braithwaite.
The Cape Henlopen High School Jazz Band performs at the pavilion June 1.
The 3,000-square-foot pavilion seats 140 people. Library Director Jill DiPaolo said they plan to rent it to outside groups starting next spring, the same way they rent their meeting rooms.

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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.

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