MERR eyes Green Hill Light for new education center

Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute founder Suzanne Thurman has an idea that would solve two problems.

By building a new education center at the Green Hill Light site at the end of Pilottown Road, MERR can further its mission while also revitalizing and preserving a nearly forgotten piece of Lewes history.

“Our goal has been for many years to create an education center where students and members of the public can come and visit,” Thurman said during a presentation to Lewes Mayor and City Council March 14. “We want this to be an immersive experience for visitors, somewhere they will be able to delve into the fascinating wonders of the undersea world.”

Founded 22 years ago, MERR provides response for stranded marine mammals and sea turtles whether injured, ill or deceased. The team provides veterinary care for those that are living and conducts and participates in research for those that have died. Education is also a big component of MERR’s mission. A new facility would allow MERR to dedicate more energy and space to ocean exploration, science, conservation and stewardship, Thurman said.

That would be achieved through interactive exhibits, virtual reality experiences, outdoor classroom spaces, virtual classrooms and oceanography camps. Scholarships and transportation would be provided for children in underserved or remote communities.

“We see this as being a resource for the entire community,” Thurman said.

The plan includes increasing MERR’s capacity for its animal care program, and to have a terrapin sanctuary available for rehabilitators when they do not have enough space at their own facilities.

The plan is to use green building design and infrastructure. All materials will be environmentally responsible, she said.

“We want it to have a sense of place that blends in with its surrounding environment rather than just being plopped upon it,” Thurman said.

The Green Hill Light site is located on an upland section of the Great Marsh. A dirt road is the only access off Pilottown Road near the Lewes boat ramp. The site’s elevation is 5 to 6 feet, so the education center would have to be raised about five more feet off the ground to meet floodplain requirements.

The Green Hill Light, a 100-foot steel tower, went into service in 1881. It was decommissioned in 1918, when it was no longer needed. The site has been mostly abandoned since.

The foundation of the light keeper’s house, built in 1910, is still evident, as is the concrete base for the light and a small brick building that housed oil.

“What we are hoping to do with this property … is not just create the ocean education center, but to make it a multi-use area to bring back to life aspects of the lighthouse with interpretational signage and models and to make it accessible for people who would find that of great interest,” Thurman said.

Part of the plan is to build walkways, birding platforms and wildlife viewing platforms for people to enjoy the vistas. They would be built in a way to afford prudent and responsible access to the marsh, Thurman said.

The next step is a feasibility study, which will help MERR identify infrastructure needs and any sensitive areas on the site. Research will include a traffic impact study and archaeological surveys. If Native American artifacts are found on the property, Thurman said, they could be incorporated into the educational component of the overall project.

“We serve the whole state of Delaware, but we’re based here in Lewes,” Thurman said. “We feel a great amount of support from the community, and we want the community to feel that they’re part of this as we get into the planning and development phase.”

Before COVID, MERR provided programs to about 10,000 participants each year. The programs were converted to be virtual in recent years. The group has 500 volunteers and more than 1,000 members. To learn more about MERR, go to www.merrinstitute.org.