State officials are beginning the process of restoring Fort DuPont.
Gov. Jack Markell (D-Delaware) joined state lawmakers at the site, signing a bill establishing the Fort DuPont Redevelopment and Preservation Corporation.
The 322-acre site has been used since the Civil War. The military turned over the fort to the state after World War II, but the facilities have degraded over the decades.
Markell says he’s confident the park will eventually be transformed into an even bigger asset for Delawareans.
“This is a place of incredible promise. It’s got a proud history. It’s got, I think, an incredible future if we’re smart about it and we’re going to be smart about it," said Markell. "I just think the number of people who have shown up today shows me that there’s a lot of public interest in this potential.”
Fort DuPont sits within House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst’s (D-Bear) district. She says it’s an important asset that will create jobs and attract tourists to the area.
“I definitely think it’s a lynch pin to connect it together because you’ve got the economic development, you’ve got the history and it’s such a small treasure.," said Longhurst. "It’s like no one knows that it exists and by having this project, we’re raising more awareness down here.”
The Bond Bill Committee set aside $2.5 million for the newly created entity earlier this year.
Cabinet secretaries fill most of the board of directors slots, with Markell also appointing the executive director by July 2015.
