The Green Hill Light area, located at the end of Pilottown Road, contains historical ruins of a lighthouse that played a significant part in the city’s maritime history.

The site was designed in the late 1800s to assist ships coming into the breakwater harbor for protection.

An accumulation of silt at the breakwater split eventually forced the lighthouse to be abandoned, somewhere around 1920.

The restoration firm of Fren and Fren LLC, has designed several phases for the park incorporating archaeological, environmental and historical factors.

Four separate levels were designed for the project - each capable of standing alone.

Level one would consist of trail construction, signage, removing woodwork and glass from the lightkeepers’ house and leaving the existing concrete base, at a cost of $124,000.

Level two included preserving the shells of the lighthouse and the lightkeepers house, for $250,000.

Level three added the lighthouse structure at a total cost of $642,000, and level four included total restoration of the lightkeepers’ house, for an end cost of $946,000.

Nina Cannata,Greenways and Trails Committee chairwoman, said the committee has opted for level two, with a few amendments. The total cost is estimated at $294,000.

Cannata said the committee has been working with Nelson Wiles, city grant coordinator, to explore funding avenues in addition to working with other state and federal agencies.

The proposed 400-foot pathway would be a loop, passing in front of the second lightkeepers’ house, the lighthouse and continuing alongside the marsh. Viewing stations would be dispersed along the way to allow views beyond the vegetation.

Signs would contain background on Lewes’ maritime history, a Green Hill Light timeline, information on vegetation and wildlife, as well as the internal workings of the Great Marsh.

Signs could be outfitted to display original black and white photos of the area, as it appeared more than 80 years ago.