UPDATE, SPRING 2006

North Indian River Inlet Marina Complex
Delaware Seashore State Park

State Managed Rehabilitation and Modernization Plan

Status Report

March 2006

Prepared by: W. Britt Murray
Chief, Office of Design & Development
Division of Parks and Recreation

In 1970, the State of Delaware purchased the Indian River Marina. Major renovations with a lifespan of 15 years were made in 1980 to 1981, and docks and slips were added in 1988. In 1996, Applied Technology & Management, Inc. (ATM), under contract to the Division of Parks and Recreation, conducted an engineering study and recommended a reconstruction plan. There followed several years of unsuccessful attempts to win state funding, ultimately prompting the Division to develop a financing plan that utilized a portion of the 21st Century Parks Endowment Fund. Therefore, reconstruction funds would not come from state taxes or the General Assembly. The General Assembly directed Parks to implement the financing plan in 2002.

Throughout 2002 and 2003 a series of meetings kept the public informed and allowed them to comment on the final design plans. From the reconstruction recommendations and the public meetings, several issues rose to the surface; specifically replacement of deteriorated floating docks, improved electrical services and dredging of the marina basin. The Division has responded to these concerns and has now completed all improvements related to these issues as well as many other improvements at the site.

Safety improvements began in late 2002 and included a new sidewalk separated from the bulkhead so users will not encounter sinkholes. The deteriorated portions of the dock were repaired with steel plates. Work has continued year-round, and has resulted in the completion of the planned projects through 2005, and is on schedule for 2006 and 2007.

What has evolved from this project is a state-of-the-art facility that will satisfy the requirements of recreational and commercial boaters and fishermen, and will provide an enticing vacation destination year-round. The following is an update on the status of each of the recommended improvements.

• DONE: Floating docks were removed and 274 new wetslips have been built. The new slips are ADA accessible.
• DONE: The marina basin has been dredged to provide five feet of water at low tide.
• DONE: The public boat landing has been rebuilt with additional trailer spaces.
• DONE: A new drystack storage building with 156 berths and two staging docks has been completed. The staging docks will accommodate one-third of the drystack storage capacity, and are ADA accessible (the building is ready to open pending approval of the fire protection system by the state Fire Marshall).
  
  
  
  
  
  Drystack Storage Facility
   

• DONE: The fixed concrete piers have been completed and the new 50-ton travel lift is operational.
• DONE: Environmental upgrades to the marine services and drystack areas have been completed, including sand filters and oil and water separators. These and other efforts helped IRM become the first Clean Marina in Delaware.
• DONE: New shoreline protection and stabilization in the form of a steel sheetpile bulkhead has been installed.
• DONE: The existing fuel dock has been replaced with a floating fuel dock with in-slip fueling for charter boats. The fuel and charter dock is ADA accessible.
  
  
  
  Improved Floating Fuel Dock
   

• DONE: Additional parking and storm water improvements have been completed.
• DONE: Twelve ADA accessible cottages have been built along the inlet with associated parking and storm water management improvements.
• SOON TO BE COMPLETED: The construction of the Dry Stack Storage facility has been completed. Once the new 440,000 gallon water storage tank is finished and operational, the fire protection system installed in the Dry Stack Building can be tested and placed into operation. We anticipate the facility to be open to the public in the Spring of 2006.

Work has just begun on the new Restrooms/Ships’ Store located near the marine Service Area. This building should be completed by July 2006.