Big Changes in Dewey Beach

“The beaches are open for walking your dog or exercising. They are not for sitting on the beach on a towel or sunning yourself or swimming”, says Mayor Dale Cooke.

The Dewey Beach commission voted on Friday to allow for restricted beach use.

Mayor Dale Cooke and Town supervisor Scott Koenig, both say the change is in response to feedback from the community.

And People in the area are already taking advantage of the change.

“There were a lot of people out there if you counted people but there’s a lot of sand and a lot of distance between people”, says Koenig.

Right now, the town has one lifeguard patrolling the beach but that will change down the line.

But Besides changes at the beach, Cooke says the town is looking at ways to bring in as much money as they can when tourism season ramps up.

“Just like our businesses the town itself is a business and we also have to be concerned about losing money.” says Mayor Cooke.

One of the ways the town is looking to bring in revenue is by rolling out the summer parking program this week, which makes up a huge portion of their earnings.

Now leaders are looking at ways to help businesses stay afloat when they are allowed to reopen.

“We’re going to be working with businesses to accommodate curb-side services. For instance last year there may have been five meters we were getting revenue off of, this year at least for the beginning we will only have three meters,” says Koenig.

Cooke says its clear that Dewey Beach finances will take a hit because of the pandemic, but they understand that the public’s health is the main priority, and so they’re working within the parameters they’ve been given.