For nearly three decades, Delaware's Open Space Program has purchased land, many acres in Sussex County.
The public, says Division of Parks and Recreation Director Ray Bivens, seems to think Open Space protects lands people will never see or visit.
But just the opposite is true.
"If you're coming to a Delaware State Park, a historic site or a state forest, it's thanks to this Open Space Program," Bivens said.
The program is voluntary; landowners agree to sell their property.
Right now, owners of 1,000 acres are signed up to sell their land, but as development has heated up, funding to purchase land has zeroed out.
The Open Space Program, originally funded at $9 million a year, has received no funding for the past two years.
As it happens, in 2015, the program came up for periodic review, during which Open Space Program officials realized more public input is needed to guide land purchases. As Bivens explained, years ago, the program purchased chunks of land for state parks or forests. But today, with the emergence of trails, small purchases, perhaps for a trail head, could be critical. "It's not as easy as it used to be," Bivens said.
Officials held meetings in Delaware's three counties to hear what citizens have to say about Open Space, but in Sussex, no one showed up.
Sussex residents – and especially Cape Gazette readers – usually have a lot to say when it comes to land use. The public still has a chance to speak at a public hearing on the draft Open Space plan Wednesday, March 8, at Dover Public Library.
Whatever space you'd like to see preserved – beaches, forests, marsh, trails or something else – take your ideas to the hearing and let officials know your priorities.
And then take your views a step further. Demand legislators fully fund Open Space.
Our parks and trails, continually expanded over the past 30 years, are critical to our quality of life. It's now our job to continue preserving open space so 30 years from now, future generations will still enjoy the rich quality of life we treasure today.
Editor’s note: The March 8 public hearing has been rescheduled to Wednesday, April 26, at 5:30 p.m. at the Dover Public Library.
-
Editorials are considered and written by Cape Gazette Editorial Board members, including Publisher Chris Rausch, Editor Jen Ellingsworth, News Editor Nick Roth and reporters Ron MacArthur and Chris Flood.
