Open Space Alliance starts business campaign

November 24, 2023 57

The Open Space Alliance announced its kickoff Nov. 20 for a Lewes business awareness and fundraising initiative to help purchase and preserve two historical and ecologically important parcels totaling 119 acres.

Alliance President Jim Ford said the focus of the campaign will be to provide more funding for the purchase of the 30-acre Fourth Street Preserve near downtown Lewes. Although, he said people can still designate their donations to the purchase of a second property, the 89-acre Ard na Greine parcel between Savannah Road and New Road just outside city limits.

Alliance members and their partners are currently in the midst of a campaign to raise $250,000 from businesses to help assist the effort to raise $8.3 million for the purchase, which includes $300,000 for campaign costs.

The Fourth Street Preserve will have a conservation easement, which is a legally binding document that will permanently protect the property as open space, and also protect the ecological assets. A master plan will be developed with public input, but uses will be limited to passive recreation such as a trail.

The alliance plans to turn over management of the property to the City of Lewes, which has donated $500,000. The property is the last undisturbed forest, last habit for native plants and animals, last significant recharge area and the last natural drainage area in Lewes.

The project is a partnership among the alliance, Greater Lewes Foundation and Sussex County Land Trust.

Several local business owners and Lewes Chamber of Commerce representatives attended a Nov. 20 reception at the Inn at Canal Square.

Open Space Alliance Campaign Manager Pam Costanzi said businesses can decide what type of fundraising works best for them.

“We will use your name and business as a founding group,” said Mike Rawl, executive director of the Greater Lewes Foundation. “Businesses have a lot of options.”

Ford said the campaign will reach out to not only include restaurants and shops, but also other professions such as medical and professional offices, Realtors, and bed and breakfasts.

Costanzi said the goal of raising $8.3 million for the Fourth Street Preserve has reached the 25% threshold. So far, more than $2.5 million has been raised toward a goal of $4.9 million from private donations.

The alliance has until the end of 2024 to raise the funds.

To make a donation, go to greaterlewesfoundation.org and click on the Featured Funds menu icon to go to the Open Space Alliance page. Donations can be made via the foundation web page, the Sussex County Land Trust or sent to Greater Lewes Foundation, P.O. Box 110, Lewes, DE 19958.

For more information, email Costanzi at pcostanzi@horizonphilanthropic.com, search Open Space Alliance Lewes on Facebook or call 302-644-0107.

Editor’s Note:

This story was updated to correct the fundraising goal for the Fourth Street Preserve. The article originally stated that the the campaign had reached the 25% threshold on both projects.