From field to forest: proposal to repurpose New Road parcel

A 20-acre parcel at the corner of New Road and Park Road in Lewes could one day be the city’s newest forest.

A proposal is making its way through city government to plant thousands of trees on at least part of the former farm field.

The land is adjacent to Canary Creek, Great Marsh Park and Canary Creek subdivision. 

Some are calling the reforestation plan a recipe for resiliency.

“Trees play a huge part in managing stormwater,” said Mardie Thompson, Lewes tree commissioner. “It aligns with our nature-based solution for the city’s resiliency strategy.”

Thompson spelled out the plan in presentations to mayor and city council, and to the city’s new economic, environment and resiliency commission.

The proposal would start with the application for a grant from the Delaware Forest Service Forest Resiliency Fund this fall. The goal would be to start planting next spring. 

Thompson said the cost to the city would be $9,620 to $10,940, 10% of the total project. The money would come from the city’s new resiliency fund. She said DFS would plant almost 9,000 native trees if the full 20 acres is planted. 

“You rarely get an opportunity to plant this much land and trees at a reasonable cost,” she said.

Economic, environment and resiliency commission member Rich Innes said the plan makes sense.

“We should do all we can to get these trees in by the next planting. This is an early win for the resiliency fund,” he said.

Thompson said the project would not create a typical park. She said people could walk among the trees and around a perimeter path.

The parcel is designated as open space, so city code would allow for structures to be built on the property.

Khalil Saliba, economic, environment and resiliency commission chair, said he will recommend that council fast-track a vote on the proposal, so they don’t miss the grant deadline.

That vote could come at the council workshop and special meeting Wednesday, Oct. 22.