Lewes footprint tapestry unveiled

The Lewes Planning Commission got its first look at a tapestry of felt footprints with messages on how to create a greener community. The piece was unveiled at the LPC’s March 20 meeting.

Planning commissioner member Amy Marasco spent last summer at various local events asking children and adults to write messages to Mother Nature on the footprints.

The messages run the gamut from protecting animal habitats to preserving open space to supporting wind energy.

“It was like an unofficial public hearing,” Marasco said. “People who don’t come to public hearings had a lot of messages to share.”

The project is aimed at helping city planners form an updated 10-year comprehensive plan, which will be drafted next year.

“A lot of those kids who wrote [messages], at the end of that 10-year period, will be 18, 22, 23. This will be their community,” said Planning Commission Chair Nancy Staisey.

Sarah Pavlik, Diana Beebe and Linda Dylla sewed the 500 footprints together to create the tapestry. The piece still needs some finishing touches before it is presented to mayor and and city council in April.

It will then be hung in city hall for Earth Day Monday, April 22.