Milford’s Parks & Recreation Director provided an update on Phase 1 of the planned Deep Branch Park, following City Council’s May 27, 2025 vote to move the first phase forward. Phase 1 includes construction of the DelDOT entrance, entrance drive, parking lot with 95 stalls, sidewalks, stone walking trails, pond excavation and stormwater infrastructure, water and sewer service for a future restroom building, landscape buffering, privacy fencing, and a remotely operated access gate. The design consultant’s construction cost estimate for Phase 1 is approximately 1479810, with total project funding targeted at 1540000 from a mix of grants and city funds, including Community Reinvestment Funds, Community Transportation Funds, and Delaware’s Outdoor Recreation Parks and Trails Program.The memo notes that the design engineer is advancing required state and county approvals, soil borings and site access clearing must be completed, and that once all agency approvals are in hand, Phase 1 will be advertised for competitive public bidding. This positions the project in late-stage planning with a clearly defined scope, making it a near-term opportunity for site-work contractors, park infrastructure builders, and related vendors to prepare to bid and offer value engineering or constructability input before the bid package is finalized.

Grant funding of approximately 1097500 is anticipated, with 963823 remaining available or anticipated; the balance of 576177 is from general fund reserves and FY26 Realty Transfer Taxes.