Public workshop helps craft ‘greenprint’ for Lewes
City leaders are hailing the success of Lewes’ first environmental greenprint public workshop. The event was held in afternoon and evening sessions Sept. 19 at the Rollins Center.
The workshop was the brainchild of Lewes Environmental Subcommittee Chair Amy Marasco.
“The idea here is a ‘greenprint’ – like a blueprint – of where we want to go as a community. Not everything has to be a law or a regulation or an ordinance. It has to be common sense, clear and enforceable, so that we commit to what the direction is,” Marasco said.
Mayor Andrew Williams began each session by encouraging people to be engaged on the environment.
“We live in a fragile community here in Lewes, not just our current situation, but what the future is bringing with the changing environment,” he said.
The workshop included a video in which local children talked about how critical it is to protect the environment for their generation and beyond.
Members of the subcommittee and city engineers made presentations on eight environmental topics: pervious/impervious materials, lot coverage, flooding, pesticides, wildlife and habitats, dark skies lighting, renewable energy and public education.
Then it was time for residents to have their say. The workshop was done in a round-robin format. People rotated among eight tables to give their ideas and opinions to city leaders on each topic.
“We used to be homeowners in Lewes. We just bought another house, and I thought if we’re going to move back, we should get involved,” said Amy Cornelius, who worked as a sustainability consultant in Philadelphia. “I’d like the city to be more proactive. This is a very dangerous time we’re living in, and we need to address what’s going on with the climate. If people know more, they’ll adopt more.”
Cornelius said the city needs to adopt new definitions of pervious/impervious materials right away and teach people how to maintain them.
Lewes resident George Cole said he came to see where the city stands on environmental issues.
“I have my own beliefs, but I don’t know what everyone else in town is looking at,” he said.
Cole said the most important issues to him are wildlife and habitat, and pesticides.
At the end of the day, Marasco said she thought the public workshop was a hit.
“I heard from many that they felt it engendered an atmosphere where individual input and participation could really happen, and many people said they even had fun,” she said.
“All of the subcommittee presenters said the public input helped them in clarifying a topic and refining our proposals, and for newer topical areas that we are just starting to work on. They welcomed all the creative ideas and input,” said Marasco.
Marasco said more than 50 people attended the two workshop sessions.
“It was great to see so much participation. It was a great way to get feedback from a large group of people,” said Williams after the early session.
Between sessions, Marasco announced the winners of the student art contest sponsored by the subcommittee.
Adrianna Kollar won first prize for a crocheted jellyfish. Her sister, Sophia, won for her painting of ocean life. Her brother, Logan, also won for his portrait of a native bird. All were given certificates from the city and Dairy Queen gift cards.
Evelyn Owen also received a certificate and gift card for her collage showing all the things she cares about in the environment.
Scarlett Rose Allen, who was not able to be at the workshop, also received prizes for her letter to Mother Nature.
Marasco also reminded participants that the subcommittee’s Footprint Project is still underway. Marasco and city employees have been asking children and adults to fill out felt footprints with their vision for Lewes’ environmental future.
Marasco said they have received more than 500 footprints so far. She said they will be made into at least one tapestry and will be presented to mayor and city council on Earth Day 2024.
