LEWES, Del. — About 300 people laced up their sneakers Saturday morning for the “Race for Open Space,” a fundraiser supporting the preservation of 30 wooded acres in the heart of Lewes.
The Fourth Street Preserve is an initiative to conserve more than 30 acres in Downtown Lewes. (Photo: CoastTV)
Organizers say the 5K and one-mile walk is expected to raise roughly $30,000 toward the Fourth Street Preserve campaign — a community-led effort to save a forested parcel from development and permanently protect it as natural open space.
Leanne Wilkinson and her granddaughter Bambi attend Race for Open Space
The event was hosted by the Open Space Alliance, which is leading the push to raise $8 million to purchase the land. According to organizers, they still need about $1.6 million before a Sept. 15 settlement deadline set in the purchase agreement.
Fourth Street Forest
CoastTV served as an event sponsor, with anchor Madeleine Overturf emceeing the race. Petey the Peacock, the station’s mascot, also joined in the festivities, delighting kids and adults alike.
CoastTV was a proud sponsor.
The Fourth Street Preserve spans nearly 30 acres of forest, streams, and native habitat — all located within Lewes city limits. The Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service plans to hold a conservation easement on the land, guaranteeing it remains protected from development.
With the clock ticking toward the fall deadline, the Open Space Alliance continues to call on donors, residents, and environmental advocates to help close the funding gap.