Center for the Inland Bays Inc

The James Farm Ecological Preserve is a 150-acre collection of diverse coastal ecosystems located near Ocean View, Delaware. The Preserve was donated to Sussex County in 1992 by the late Mary Lighthipe, a descendant of the James family that once farmed there. Ms. Lighthipe stipulated that the property be preserved in its natural state and used for the purposes of environmental education and outdoor recreation. The Center assumed management of the Preserve on behalf of Sussex County in 1998.

Today, the Preserve is a living demonstration of successful habitat restoration. Since assuming management, the Center has meticulously restored its ecosystems, which include freshwater wetlands, salt marshes, maritime forests, meadows, intertidal flats, and sandy beaches. This ecological diversity makes the Preserve especially unique, as it embodies the natural beauty of the entire Delmarva peninsula, all in one place.

Although southern Delaware has an abundance of natural recreation areas, a majority require a fee for access or program participation. While these fees are an important piece of the local economy, they can also be a barrier; nearly one-quarter of Sussex County youth fall below the national poverty line. The benefits of time spent outdoors are a basic human right. Everyone is entitled to form a relationship with the natural world. Nurturing this relationship will not only improve a student’s quality of life but will also open the door for future learning and encourage action through community involvement. For this reason, access to the Preserve is free, removing the barrier of cost to low-income individuals and families.

Other activities conducted at the Preserve that further the Center’s mission include:
citizen science surveys, which enlist volunteers to study how the quality of the Bays is changing in response to restoration efforts.
public programming, such as guided bird walks and paddle tours, which further engages children and adults in the study of ecosystems and environmental conservation.
community outreach events, which provide a forum for educating residents and visitors of all ages about the ecological and economical importance of the Inland Bays.

The Preserve also provides public access to a number of outdoor recreation activities, including fishing, clamming, swimming, ecotours, paddlesports, birdwatching, and two miles of walking trails. Its popularity is evidenced by its heavy use in comparison with nearby Holts Landing State Park. In 2020, the Preserve received nearly 40,000 unique visits, up from 10,000 unique visits in 2012.

When originally developed in 1998, the Preserve’s facilities were installed piecemeal and without foresight of Sussex County’s forthcoming growth in population. As the Preserve’s popularity increased and its programs expanded, the need to plan for increased visitation while protecting its ecosystems became evident.

So, the Center embarked on the development of a holistic plan that would address the needs of Preserve users and collectively envision its future. The Center and Sussex County sought input and ideas from key stakeholders of the Center and the Preserve, including staff, elected officials, community leaders, educators, volunteers, donors, and other community members. The resulting master plan, finalized in 2014, addresses enhancements to better serve residents and visitors of Delaware while protecting the Preserve’s ecosystems and enhancing education and outreach opportunities.

Implementation of the Master Plan began in 2017 with Phase 1, which focused on safer access and improved outdoor experiences for Preserve users. Infrastructure enhancements included: a DelDOT approved parking lot entrance and driveway to safely accommodate increased vehicle traffic; expanded parking facilities to increase parking capacity from 8 to 27 cars; designated school bus parking for safe student loading and unloading; a multi-purpose event lawn to accommodate greater attendance at outreach events and provide open space for public recreation.

The Center successfully secured all necessary funding and Phase 1 construction was completed in the spring of 2019.

Phase 2 of the master plan focuses on enhancing the Preserve’s infrastructure to better accommodate activities associated with environmental education, restoration, research, and community recreation. The design, engineering, and permitting process for these enhancements is currently underway.