After two decades of fundraising and planning, the members of the Mathews Land Conservancy are finally beginning to see all their hard work at Williams Wharf Landing come to fruition.

The nonprofit group held a groundbreaking ceremony last Wednesday afternoon to mark the start of the final phase of the project to convert the former commercial boatyard into a waterfront centerpiece for the community.

This last phase includes the large vessel and fishing pier, the green space with viewing area, replacement of the south floating dock and the parking area and turnaround. A separate groundbreaking ceremony for the boathouse is being planned for the future.

The May 21 ceremony was also held for two additional reasons—the naming of the yet-to-be-constructed boathouse and the creation of an award given by the conservancy to recognize those who have demonstrated a long-standing commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Mathews.

Former county administrator Stephen K. Whiteway serv...