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Landscaping at Lightship Overfalls site to begin soon

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Final phase of project nears completion

As dock and bulkhead construction for the Lightship Overfalls near completion, the final phase of the project, landscaping the area around the historic ship, could begin in a few weeks.

"I'm hoping that once we receive bids we can complete it within a month," said Preston Lee, Canalfront Park project manager. Completing the permanent slip for the Overfalls and landscaping are the final phases of projects that saved the park land from commercial development and saved the more than 70-year-old lightship from rusting away in the Lewes Rehoboth Canal

Lee said construction of the ship's bulkhead is ahead of schedule. Landscaping will begin soon after bids from at least three qualified companies have been received.

"It's not too involved and is very similar to the Canalfront Park in design. It's mostly turf and gravel walkways designed to the same specifications as the walkways in the existing park," Lee said.

He said Wilmington-based registered landscape architect Rodney Robinson is working on the final plan. Lee said Robinson's work is also featured in restoration of Rodney Square and Brandywine Park in Wilmington, and at the US. Botanic Garden Conservatory in Washington, D.C.

"Rodney has done an excellent job. It's very clean, open, and very practical. It's intentionally an extension of the Canalfront Park," he said.

Lee said shade trees would be planted next to the playground where picnic tables would be placed for park visitors to sit and enjoy a canalside lunch.

"There's also a walkway that extends from the apron into the Overfalls property. Soon after entering the Overfalls property there will be a circular seating area made of pavers. There's a compass rose design built into the pavers in the seating area Between the ship's store and the net reel will be another circular seating area featuring Overfalls artifacts," Lee said.

He said a three-foot wall topped with granite bearing the names of Delaware Maritime Hall of Fame award winners would be built near I the aft portion of the ship, and a brick wall would be built near die entrance to the ship that would bear the names of Overfalls project donors.





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