GEORGETOWN, Del.- Sussex County has purchased another parcel of land in the effort to preserve more open space in Southern Delaware.
On Tuesday, officials announced the County purchased 17.5 acres off Route 24. The property is wedged between Sarah's Run and Chapel Branch waterways, which feed into Herring Creek.
“There is a lot of concern out there about development in Sussex County, and for good reason,” said County Councilman Doug Hudson, whose district includes the parcel. “This shows the County is listening, balancing the rights of property owners to sell or develop their parcels, while recognizing – and doing something about – the public’s desire for more open space.”
Earlier this month, the County, City of Lewes, and the Lewes Board of Public Works announced plans to buy the Jones Farm off Kings Highway in another effort to preserve open space.
According to the County, the property was purchased from the Dickson and Riley families for approximately $970,000. The County says the money came from already budged realty and transfer taxes.
The Center for the Inland Bays helped Sussex County identify strategic properties whose protection would benefit waterways. While the property will remain a farm at the moment, its future open space use will be determined at a later date.
