Lewes in Bloom presents plan for Stango Park

When Lewes officials purchased 5.9 acres along Freeman Highway, they not only envisioned land for a new, larger library and a future trailhead, but they also saw an opportunity to extend Stango Park across the railroad tracks.

Now that the library is open and the trailhead is nearing completion, the Lewes Parks and Recreation Commission is turning its attention to the remaining 1 acre.

A public hearing will be held at 6 p.m., Monday, Sept. 19, for residents and organizations to bring their ideas for Stango Park Extended to the commission for consideration.

Lewes in Bloom has already approached the city with a detailed conceptual plan to turn the space into a children's learning park. Landscape architect Eric Wahl, a member of Lewes in Bloom, presented the plan at the parks and rec meeting Aug. 15.

The plan includes a new children's learning garden, small stage, community gathering area, labyrinth and several smaller gardens.

The learning garden would feature raised beds with herbs and vegetables. The existing learning garden in the original Stango Park section would remain and feature fruit trees and shrubs. Next to the learning garden would be a grill area for cooking demos to teach children how to cook with herbs and vegetables from the garden.

“We love the garden we have; it's been very successful,” said Nancy Phillips, chair of both Lewes in Bloom and the Children's Learning Garden. “We just got thinking that we could do so much more.”

Phillips said Lewes in Bloom has been researching ideas for the park extension for two years.

Behind the learning garden would be a stage that Wahl envisions as a place for teaching, with an outdoor blackboard and possibly a natural amphitheater.

In another section of the park, a path would take people through several smaller gardens, including native, pollinator, sensory, reading and fairy gardens.

While the children's learning garden is the centerpiece, Wahl said, the plan is for the park extension to be a place for all ages. Wahl will cover his entire plan in a powerpoint presentation at the Sept. 19 public hearing.

“I think it’s really important that this space become an attraction for both locals and tourists,” he said.

Wahl has no estimate on the cost to construct the entire plan, but he envisions it being built in phases as money becomes available. He said Lewes in Bloom plans to seek grants.

About three-quarters of the land is owned by the city; the remaining land is the responsibility of the library. Parks and rec officials said the cost of construction and ongoing maintenance would have to be determined before a plan is approved.

Christine Besche, commissioner in charge of Stango Park, said she loves Wahl's design.

“To take a blank slate and organize it the way it has been, he did a great job,” she said. “I think it flows very nicely. It's certainly an ambitious plan, but it's very well thought out.”