ASSAWOMAN CANAL PATH

THE ASSAWOMAN CANAL IS ADJACENT TO BAHAMAS BEACH COTTAGES WITH FOUR OF OUR HOMES BACKING UP TO THE STATE PARK PROPERTY. ASSAWOMAN CANAL IS PART OF DELAWARE SEASHORE STATE PARK. THE 97 ACRE CANAL CONNECTS THE INDIAN RIVER BAY TO THE LITTLE ASSAWOMAN BAY TO THE SOUTH, APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILES IN LENGTH. THE CANAL HAS RECENTLY BEEN DREDGED TO ALLOW SMALL TO MEDIUM BOAT TRAFFIC. IT IS A MECCA FOR THOSE WHO KAYAK. ORIGINALLY DUG BY IMMIGRANTS BY HAND IN THE 1850's, IT SERVED FOR BOAT TRAFFIC UNTIL IT BECAME TOO SHALLOW FOR MOST BOATS.

 

THE PLANNED WALKING/BIKING PATH WILL EXTEND FROM THE WETLANDS OF SOUTH BETHANY TO INDIAN RIVER BAY NEAR WHITE CREEK. IT IS PROPOSED FOR EIGHT FEET WIDE, GRAVEL AND CRUSHED STONE (WE HAVEN'T DECIDED SURFACING OR WIDTHS YET). IT WILL PROBABLY GO UNDER THE JEFFERSON BRIDGE WITH A BOARDWALK. WE ARE IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH OCEAN VIEW THAT IT SHOULD REMAIN AS NATURAL AS POSSIBLE. MOST OF THE FUNDING WILL COME FROM A FEDERAL GRANT.

 

MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES WILL BE ADDRESSED AS THE PROCESS MOVES FORWARD. THE BOARD IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH OCEAN VIEW, SOUTH BETHANY, BETHANY BEACH AND SEA COLONY TO PUSH FOR THE COMPLETION OF THIS PATH. OUR PORTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED FOR SOME TIME TO A POINT IN SEA COLONY, BUT NEEDS THE FINISHED SURFACE LAYER WHEN THE REST OF THE PATH IS COMPLETED.

If you would like a copy of the proposed path, email Peter Martucci pmartucci643@verizon.net