Sussex County Land Trust hosts Annual Board Meeting

On Friday, March 28, 2025, the Sussex County Land Trust welcomed members of the public at Baywood Greens to its annual board meeting where the Board of Trustees provided updates on recent Trust initiatives, nominated new officers and committee members, and highlighted many key property holdings throughout Sussex County. 

Founded in 2001, the organization is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting natural, cultural, agricultural, and recreational resources through land preservation, stewardship, and education in Sussex County.  During the presentation, Board Chair Ring Lardner emphasized the importance of the Trust’s partnership with Sussex County Council, which has raised more than $4,000,000 in private funds and protected more than 6,000 acres in Sussex County.

Several key property acquisitions in partnership with Sussex County Council were discussed during the presentation:

• Ickford Park – A 59-acre property located west of Seaford on Atlanta Road acquired for historical interpretation, featuring two historic structures: the Williams-Litchford home, an early 20th century home recently restored by the Trust and the Cannon-Maston home, a 1727 structure currently under restoration efforts.
• Stephen P. Hudson Park – A 30-acre property acquired in 2018 at the intersection of Route 9 and Cool Spring Road near Milton has recently been developed and opened as a trailhead and parking area with direct access to the Georgetown-Lewes Trail. The newly opened park will also feature a Can-Do Playground – currently in the planning stages – in partnership with the Sussex County Rotary Clubs.
• Nanticoke Crossing Park – Acquired in 2021 in partnership with the Chesapeake Conservancy, this 41-acre property is situated along the Nanticoke River adjacent to the historic Woodland Ferry, west of Seaford, DE. The property is undergoing a master plan design and will feature public recreation, picnic areas, frisbee golf, and eventually a kayak launch.
• Hopkins Preserve – A 52-acre property located along Sweetbriar Road in Lewes, DE and contiguous to the Georgetown-Lewes Trail, the property was acquired in partnership with Sussex County Council and will be home to a recreational preserve. A masterplan has been completed by Vernacular Landscape Architecture and development plans are underway for a 2025 groundbreaking.
• Forest of the Broadkill – This 294-acre tract, located at the intersection of Shingle Point Road and Route 30 southwest of Milton, was acquired by Sussex County Council through its Conservation Program to provide public access. The property features a mix of woodland, open meadow, and frontage along Ingram Branch, a tributary of the Broadkill River. It will be managed by the Trust and is currently in the design phase for a master plan that includes trail access and a public parking area.
• Ard Na Greine – The Trust, in partnership with several other funding sources, is currently under contract to acquire this 88-acre site located off New Road in Lewes, DE. The property is one of the last remaining large-scale tracts of land in the Lewes area and it was announced at the meeting that a federal funding component through NRCS had been secured, and a final settlement would likely occur in 2025.

During the presentation, Lardner also recognized three outgoing Board members, thanking each for their board tenure and service.  Heidi Gilmore, Russ McCabe, and Ron Vickers have been long-standing members of the Trust Board of Trustees and all three will remain as advisors to the Board going forward. 

Hal Carmean II, SCLT Board member and Co-Chair of the Fundraising and Events Committee, unveiled new features on the Trust’s website offering donation benefit opportunities and naming rights for specific projects and trails. 

“We are always looking for new partners to further these important initiatives,” Carmean said, “and these donation levels and naming rights offer folks to leave a legacy for their contribution.”

For more information on SCLT’s mission, initiatives, and opportunities to get involved, visit www.sclandtrust.org.