MORRIS TWP. - Christmas came early to the nonprofit Museum of Makers Plus Innovators (MOMI) when it received a $10,000 grant from the Mimi Washington Starrett Foundation to build the
Recent grant awards will transform James Farm Ecological Preserve
Delaware News Desk
The recent award of three major grants totaling $220,000 is setting in motion the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays’ reimagining of the James Farm Ecological Preserve.
Plans to transform the 150-acre nature preserve near Ocean View are years in the making. Grant awards of $100,000 from the Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Trails Program; $100,000 from Crystal Trust; and $20,000 from The Starrett Foundation will deliver upgrades to the preserve’s trail system and expand environmental education opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.
Sussex County has committed nearly $300,000 toward this project in addition to these grants, which is being realized through a cooperative partnership with the county and the Center for the Inland Bays. The preserve is owned by Sussex County and managed by the center.
Grants to transform James Farm Ecological Preserve
A student of the Center for Inland Bays’ Day on the Bay program records her observations on a sample collected from Indian River Bay. The new education building will provide more suitable workspace for students, as well as shelter from the elements during inclement weather. SUBMITTED PHOTOS January 29, 2021
A three-season education building (roof not shown) is the gem of planned improvements to the Preserve. It will be used for the Day on the Bay program, volunteer trainings, intergenerational education and community events. Architectural design by Kimley-Horn and David D. Quillin.
The reimagining of the campus area will be as unique and appealing as the natural wonder of the preserve itself. Structural designs hold true to the agricultural heritage of the property and the region.