{"id":15525,"date":"2025-06-09T13:50:12","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T17:50:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/?p=15525"},"modified":"2025-06-09T13:50:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T17:50:12","slug":"city-of-lewes-secures-historic-forest-land-with-8-million-community-effort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/city-of-lewes-secures-historic-forest-land-with-8-million-community-effort\/","title":{"rendered":"City of Lewes Secures Historic Forest Land with $8 Million Community Effort"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>LEWES, Del.<\/strong> \u2014 The City of Lewes has successfully raised $8 million to acquire the 30-acre Fourth Street Preserve, securing the land three months ahead of schedule. The forested property, first deeded in 1670, will now be owned by the city thanks to a campaign led by the Greater Lewes Foundation. The fundraising effort, chaired by Jim Ford and directed by Pam Costanzi, brought together public and private funds, including $1 million from the city, a matching $1 million from the Longwood Foundation, $3.2 million from state sources, and $2.8 million raised through more than 1,300 local donations. <br>Plans for the preserve include restoring native plants, adding new trails, ditch crossings, interpretive signage, and constructing a specially engineered wetland. The restoration will be overseen by landscape architect Rodney Robinson, in collaboration with city officials. Once finalized, the preserve will be protected by a conservation easement managed by the Delaware Department of Agriculture and monitored by the Delaware Forest Service, which plans to use the site as a model for urban forest conservation in Sussex County. Mayor Amy Marasco called the acquisition a reflection of the community\u2019s dedication to preserving natural resources, emphasizing the collective effort involved. Restoration is expected to take several years and will include involvement from local students, naturalists, and Lewes\u2019s Master Naturalist group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"496\" height=\"348\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Lewes-Delaware-Sign.jpg?resize=496%2C348&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Lewes-Delaware-Sign.jpg?w=496&amp;ssl=1 496w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Lewes-Delaware-Sign.jpg?resize=300%2C210&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 496px) 100vw, 496px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>LEWES, Del. \u2014 The City of Lewes has successfully raised $8 million to acquire the 30-acre Fourth Street Preserve, securing the land three months ahead of schedule. The forested property, first deeded in 1670, will now be owned by the city thanks to a campaign led by the Greater Lewes Foundation. The fundraising effort, chaired [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15527,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Lewes-Delaware-Sign.jpg?fit=496%2C348&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-42p","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3834,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/sussex-county-announces-5-million-purchase-protection-of-hopkins-farmland\/","url_meta":{"origin":15525,"position":0},"title":"UPDATE: Sussex County purchases Hopkins Family Farm, other land for preservation","author":"admin","date":"June 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Sussex County has purchased former farmland of Hopkins Farm near Lewes for preservation. (Photo: Sussex County Government) Sussex County Council announced the purchase of several parcels of land for preservation, including the former Hopkins Family Farm. . County officials announced yesterday the purchase of several parcels of land, which includes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/land.purchases.06-21-22.jpg?fit=480%2C270&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16801,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/lewes-city-council-considers-ban-on-gated-communities\/","url_meta":{"origin":15525,"position":1},"title":"LEWES CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS BAN ON GATED COMMUNITIES","author":"admin","date":"July 22, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Lewes, Del. \u2014 City officials in Lewes are set to review a proposed amendment that would prohibit gated communities within city limits. At a council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, the governing body will discuss changes to Section 170-27 of the municipal code, specifically to ban the installation of gates on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Lewes-City-Hall.jpg?fit=1200%2C618&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Lewes-City-Hall.jpg?fit=1200%2C618&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Lewes-City-Hall.jpg?fit=1200%2C618&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Lewes-City-Hall.jpg?fit=1200%2C618&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Lewes-City-Hall.jpg?fit=1200%2C618&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13095,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/lewes-fire-department-issues-warning-over-ems-funding-deficit\/","url_meta":{"origin":15525,"position":2},"title":"Lewes Fire Department Issues Warning Over EMS Funding Deficit","author":"admin","date":"March 13, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"LEWES, Del. \u2013 The Lewes Fire Department has formally warned the Sussex County Council that it will be forced to begin dissolving its Emergency Medical Services (EMS) if significant funding increases are not provided by 2025. In a letter dated March 6, department officials outlined the growing demand for emergency\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Lewes-Fire-Dept.jpg?fit=1200%2C456&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Lewes-Fire-Dept.jpg?fit=1200%2C456&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Lewes-Fire-Dept.jpg?fit=1200%2C456&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Lewes-Fire-Dept.jpg?fit=1200%2C456&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Lewes-Fire-Dept.jpg?fit=1200%2C456&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16977,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/army-reserve-center-in-lewes-to-be-converted-into-municipal-campus\/","url_meta":{"origin":15525,"position":3},"title":"ARMY RESERVE CENTER IN LEWES TO BE CONVERTED INTO MUNICIPAL CAMPUS","author":"admin","date":"July 29, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Lewes, Del. \u2014 Plans are being made to turn the empty Army Reserve Center in Lewes into a city campus. This new place will be used by the city government, the local police, and the Board of Public Works. The land is five acres big and is close to several\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/lewes-army-reserve.jpg?fit=678%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/lewes-army-reserve.jpg?fit=678%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/lewes-army-reserve.jpg?fit=678%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2640,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/lewes-swing-bridge-is-out-on-its-way-to-final-resting-place\/","url_meta":{"origin":15525,"position":4},"title":"Lewes swing bridge is out, on its way to final resting place","author":"admin","date":"February 15, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"View of the swing bridge from Overfalls weather camera (overfalls.org) After months of planning and another couple months of re-planning, the Lewes swing bridge is finally out. 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