Lewes beaches to close for replenishment
The two main beaches in Lewes – Savannah Beach and Johnnie Walker Beach – are scheduled to close Monday, March 16, for most of the next four weeks so sand can be removed from the parking lots.
The sand will be redistributed on the narrowest part of Lewes Beach, a three-quarter-mile stretch from Savannah Beach to just north of Children’s Beach House.
An electronic sign has been posted on Savannah Road heading toward the beach warning of the impending closure.
Lewes City Manager Ellen Lorraine McCabe shared the details at the March 9 mayor and city council meeting.
McCabe said the city has received permitting from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
“There has been lots of sand accumulating on the [beach] parking lots, to the point where it is impeding traffic flow and impeding parking spots. The sand will be moved back on the beaches where it belongs and is most beneficial,” she said.
The equipment rental will cost the city $100,000. City maintenance employees will do the work.
The beaches and parking lots will be closed Monday through Saturday, from March 16 through April 10. McCabe said both beaches will be open on Sundays.
“We want to get this done as quickly as possible so we can open it back up for the summer season,” McCabe said.
She said they also have a tight window because of horseshoe crab migration.
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.
