Riverwalk repairs, which could include a new fishing pier, were approved at a recent Milford City Council meeting. Parks and Recreation Director Brad Dennehy provided council with a few definitions before explaining the repair request.
“The first is the concrete bulkhead, so basically that is the vertical retaining wall,” Dennehy explained. “I’ll refer to another item as riprap, and these are the large stones along the banks of the river that help prevent erosion. One last thing I will talk about and that is called a living shoreline. A living shoreline is a method of shoreline protection or restoration that is built using natural materials and native plants to mimic natural coastal habitat.”
Denney explained that the need for the Riverwalk repairs occurred about a year ago, there was a significant snowstorm followed by a very heavy rain event that lasted for about five days. After those events, staff responded to a large sinkhole near the pickleball courts east of the Washington Street bridge.
“Large areas of concrete were discovered to be compromised,” Dennehy said. “Parks staff and Public Works staff removed the dangerous sections of the concrete, and the area was secured to prevent pedestrian access and it has remained closed to the public. Myself and Willis, the public works director, met with a consultant engineering firm and it was determined there were not just sinkholes, but there were sections of the concrete bulkhead in the river, the vertical wall, which was seriously compromised in March 2025.”
Dennehy continued, reminding council that the city manager was authorized to execute a contract with GPI Engineering Inc. to review the necessary Riverwalk repairs and provide preliminary estimates.
“The current status is that section of the Riverwalk remains closed to the public with temporary fencing,” Dennehy said. “The consulting firm has fulfilled the initial contract and has provided three potential concepts to make the repair and cost estimates. The first is called a sheet pile wall and that is basically 100 feet of sheet piling. That is vertical interlocking sheets which are vibrated into the riverbed directly in front of the existing bulkhead. They may have a poured concrete cap installed and a matching stainless steel cable railing system, very similar to what we have downtown at the moment by the Santa House.”
Dennehy explained that the sinkholes would be fixed to match the rest of the Riverwalk and then rip rap placed to blend the new structure into the existing rip rap terrain. The estimated cost for those Riverwalk repairs would be $342,000.
“The next option is very similar but would not be as much sheet piling,” Dennehy said. “It’s 89 feet of the vertical interlocking sheets, but then this option features an overlook of a new tidal wetland habitat. In addition to creating a safe space for animals and plants to thrive, this option also increases the esthetic appeal to the area. So, imagine we will be taking out a lot of the large rocks, and we’d be creating this natural kind of habitat with plantings down there. This option cuts down on the sidewalk are and it creates this new area for new animals and plant habitat.”
Dennehy stated that the living shoreline bed would be excavated and filled with sand and vegetation, then tied into the existing riprap to complete the Riverwalk repairs. The cost for that option is $339,000.
“The last option is a hybrid sheet pile wall and rip rap slope,” Dennehy said. “This is significantly less sheet piling, 53 feet long, but has considerably more rip rap. So, we’d be putting large boulders back in place. These Riverwalk repairs would reduce the area of sidewalk and most of the bulkhead would be removed and replaced with rip rap. There are som existing pipes in the bulkhead. They would be removed and filled and kept all connected to a manhole and single outlet.”
Of the three options for the Riverwalk repairs, the third was the least costly at $260,000.
“The last time I was here, before the mayor and council, you discussed construction of a fishing platform,” Dennehy said. “So, there is an engineering estimate of a 10 by 10 prefabricated aluminum platform with piles and railings and a connector walkway. That’s approximately $30,000 to $45,000 to construct and that would be in addition to the cost of the Riverwalk repairs outlined above.”
Dennehy explained that the total cost of the Riverwalk repairs would not be known until the design documents were completed and then put out for bid. He felt the fishing platform could be included as part of the bid process. GPI provided a proposal for extending engineering services in the amount of $79,000 which would include coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers and DNREC. He stated that all three options would resolve the issues with the Riverwalk, but Dennehy felt that the living shoreline would be the most aesthetically pleasing.
“No living shoreline currently exists along the river, so this would be a learning curve for Parks and Recreation,” Dennehy said. “But there are multiple projects throughout Delaware, the inland bays, Indian River inlet, Lewes, where these projects have been designed and installed by good contractors. The Riverwalk has been a jewel for Milford and it is critical that this project move forward as soon as possible for pedestrian safety and reopening the Riverwalk.”
As for funding for the Riverwalk repairs, Dennehy pointed out that there was $465,000 remaining in the Capital Improvement Budget (CIP). In addition, in Dennehy proposed using funding from the City Hall Plaza project to cover the estimated costs of Riverwalk repairs and the fishing pier which could cost $500,000. Councilman Michael Stewart asked if putting in less sheet pile could cause more damage.
“That is a very good question, I mean, I think the more sheet piling you put in there is going to protect everything,” Dennehy said. “So, I think it’s the path of least resistance putting in as much sheet piling as you can. I think what the engineers are proposing is that we wouldn’t be exposing anymore. If we remove what’s there, we put back the riprap and living shoreline, so I think that will work in conjunction.”
Councilwoman Nadia Zychal asked about the learning curve Dennehy mentioned. Dennehy pointed out that since there was not a living shoreline along the Mispillion right now, there would be some initial plantings that may need babysitting.
“In terms of extra maintenance, I think we would just have to learn what we needed to learn to maintain it,” Dennehy said. “I think that would just get absorbed into our everyday maintenance as part of the Parks and Rec annual duties.”
Councilman Dan Marabello asked Dennehy which option he preferred.
“Well, I always like something new and shiny and bright,” Dennehy said. “I think my personal opinion is that I like the idea of a living shoreline. I think anytime we can get kids down along the banks of the river, the habitat is going to bring more turtles, it’s going to bring more fish, it’s going to bring more wildlife.”
There was discussion about the funding for the Riverwalk repairs with Councilman Danny Perez wondering if the living shoreline might lead to additional repairs. Dennehy explained that he could get those details from the engineering firm.
“I think time is of the essence here because summer is coming up and I’m sick and tired of looking at that fence down there on the Riverwalk,” Mayor Todd Culotta said. “I like the fishing platform. I pushed Brad for that quite a bit in discussing this. I think drawing people downtown, a lot of people like to fish in the river. I think that’s a neat piece of this pending it can work out engineering wise. Whether it is one, two or three, that is up to us right now.”
Zychal made a motion that the city authorize Riverwalk repairs option two, the living shoreline option, and contract with GPI Engineering up to $79,000 to continue engineering services. Councilwoman Katrina Wilson seconded the motion.
“I approve the project, I think it is needed,” Councilman Dan Marabello said in a roll call vote. “It has to be done quickly and it’s going to improve the look of the area.”
Zychal agreed.
“I vote yes as it is an opportunity to improve an existing amenity and it is a fiscally responsible way to do it,” Zychal said.
Both Councilwoman Lori Connor and Stewart voted yes for reasons stated.
“The main reason is for the safety concern,” Stewart said. “This has been going on long enough that we need to repair this and the quicker, the better.”
Perez voted yes, agreeing with Culotta that he was “sick and tired” of seeing the fence down there.
“I vote yes. For one, it includes the fishing pier and because a lot of people already fish in that area, and even thought the motion is $504,000, hopefully it will be brought back to us to see what the final cost will be,” Councilman Jason James said.
Wilson also voted yes.
“I vote yes. I appreciate your due diligence and bringing us options,” Wilson said. “I think it’s definitely just a wonderful attraction to have that fishing dock there. That would be awesome for our citizens.”
The motion passed with a vote of seven to zero as Councilwoman Madula Kalesis was absent.
I leave it to the wisdom of those who have studied the options in terms of repairs. Anything done in Milford to improve the riverwalk is a positive for the community. My suggestion would be that while you are repairing damaged areas in the best manner, you also consider ways to improve the continuity of the entire path. It is confusing and poorly marked. It seems like this could be improved with minimal costs.