Most of Vienna lies within the Critical Area, land within 1,000 feet of a tidal wetland or waterway. Development of the riverwalk and park on the Nanticoke grew from coordinated federal, state, and local efforts to serve local needs while protecting the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and providing public access. Like many waterfront communities, this shoreline was altered repeatedly over centuries. In the late 1700s and well into the 1800s, Vienna was a bustling commercial port, and in other periods mills, processing plants, and canneries operated along the river's edge. In recent decades, the importance of such shorelines in environmental protection has become evident. The Town of Vienna developed a comprehensive Buffer Management Plan for the waterfront park to improve water quality, support boater and pedestrian access, and foster environmental stewardship. Many native plants and marsh habitat now thriving on this shore resulted from a concerted effort to establish a transitional habitat between built and natural environments. Vienna's shoreline is now a renewed asset for residents, visitors, and the Nanticoke River itself.