LEWES, Del. - The City of Lewes Parks and Recreation Committee met on Monday night to discuss the possible renaming of Beach 1 and Beach 2. The idea is still in the very early stages.
The newly appointed park commissioner suggested renaming the beaches because the names are not directional and they don't have a connection to the city. Beachgoers say the city should have some fun with the renaming.
"They've been naming memorial highways after people then they started running out of highways, so they started naming ramps and bridges. Well why not have a memorial beach? You gotta honor somebody. There's a lot of people to be honored," said Joe McMaster from Dover, Pennsylvania, who has been visiting Lewes for years.
Janet Reeves, the city's Parks & Marina Administrator, says the Parks and Recreation committee came up with a few preliminary ideas on Monday night.
"A directional name for perhaps Beach 1. When people ask for directions we say go straight down to Savannah, and you'll run right into the Beach 1 parking lot. And there was discussion around the history of Lewes, and perhaps doing one of the beaches with a historical connection to the city," said Reeves.
The park commissioner will speak to the African American Heritage Commission next month to get their input as well.
"Then we will do public hearings, and we will take it from there to see if there is public interest, in it but we had to start with the Park and Recs commission," said Reeves.
Beachgoers came up with a few names themselves.
"A directional name or even 'dog beach.' Name it the name of a pet or 'pet beach.' Name it in the association of a pet, you know just have fun with it," said Paul DePasquale, who has a beach home in Lewes but is from Hartford County, Maryland.
They believe the city should make the change because, "Adding a name would make it much more personable and more inviting," said
The city is finding a way to incorporate the rich history of Lewes into its beautiful beaches, but the options are limitless.