Local officials, Friends of Holts Landing State Park, and park users gathered at the park near Bethany Beach to cut the ribbon for the park’s improvements June 21.

Improvements include a new boat ramp, a ramp parking area, and a playground appropriate for ages 2 through 12. The main parking lot was also redesigned.

Funding for the improvements came from the Community Transportation Funds of Senate Minority Leader Gerald Hocker, R-Ocean View, and Rep. Ronald Gray, R-Selbyville. A portion of the funding came from a federal grant from the Recreational Trails Program.

Hocker spoke about the park when he was young, playing on a wide sandy beach and learning to swim.