Construction on new lifeguard headquarters and public restrooms will start this fall at Baltimore Avenue and the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach.
Rehoboth Beach Commissioners voted to hire Delmarva Veteran Builders to build the $4.9 million, state-of-the-art facility Aug. 18. Demolition on the old building is set to begin in mid-September.
The city’s goal is to have the first-floor public restrooms completed for summer 2024 and the second-floor lifeguard headquarters substantially completed by summer 2025.
The current lifeguard headquarters and public restrooms were built in 1987, when Rehoboth Beach had 42 lifeguards. There are now nearly 80 lifeguards, who call headquarters “the shack.” According to a city news release, the building has the following shortcomings”
- It’s too small. The medical room is also used as an office and there is only one bathroom.
- The medical room has no sanitary sink, lacks privacy and is insufficiently cooled by an old air-conditioning unit.
- The building is physically damaged due to decades of damp, salty conditions.
- One shower sometimes can’t be used due to sewage backup, forcing guards to wash off at an outdoor spigot.
- There is insufficient electrical capacity for radios.
- Staff lockers are rusty and deteriorating.
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The new building will allow for quicker and more efficient lifeguard responses, according to the city.
Last week, the city launched “Reach Out Rehoboth,” a new website designed to “to provide better information, gather input, and ultimately result in better decision-making.” You can find out more about the new lifeguard headquarters and other projects at reachout.cityofrehoboth.com.
Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on Sussex County and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught.
