The City of Lewes, Delaware is located where the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean meet, the area known as Cape Henlopen. The naturally beautiful area with beaches on both the ocean and the bay, trails, and nature preserves add to the many reasons to visit this small historic town founded by the Dutch in 1631. In addition to natural beauty, this charming city offers a wonderful historic district, with architecture dating back to the 17th century, museums, special tours, cozy accommodations, restaurants to please any palate, and unique shops and boutiques all within walking distance of each other.

A walking town, the city of Lewes is only 4 square miles. It thrives on history and yet has a solid vision for the future. The city has embraced the “cool city” movement to curb global warming and is in its 18th year as a “tree city,” committed to increasing the tree canopy. For its size, the city has a remarkable number of volunteer organizations, including Lewes in Bloom and is a desirable place to live.

Lewes in Bloom, integral to the Communities in Bloom project, is one of its volunteer organization and has more than 200 members. Each year its members volunteer hundreds of hours planting thousands of bulbs and plants throughout the city. It promotes the beautification and maintenance of Historic Lewes and the community at large. It is dedicated to helping Lewes boost its attractiveness through a variety of efforts including historical preservation, environmental awareness, a children’s garden, floral displays, and more. With Lewes in Bloom’s assistance, Lewes won the America in Bloom Circle of Champions Award for small towns at the 2015 America in Bloom Symposium in Holland, MI. Information on membership and support can be found at www.lewesinbloom.org or facebook

Lewes is exceptional in other ways, too. This historical coastal city of just under 3,000 individuals boasts a green community. Below are many of the activities that show a green commitment:

• Overall Lewes in Bloom (LIB) beautification program of hanging baskets, beds, historical preservation, environmental awareness, the Children’s Learning Garden at the Lewes Library, and more
• Canalfront Park Rain Gardens
• Lewes Village Community’s demonstration residential rain garden
• Canalfront Park gravel walkways and parking lot to enhance water recharge
• Historical Fisher Martin Herb Garden
• Planting bed on the roof the Canalfront Park’s restrooms
• The City’s use of porous pavement roads and the recent porous pavement walkway along the tennis courts
• Tree inventory
• Tulip and daffodil planting programs
• Bureau of Public Waste’s Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Waste Collection Program
• City’s solid waste pick up program
• Paper bag yard waste implementation
• City’s ongoing conversion to natural gas
• Dog park
• Creation of the Great Marsh Park
• City’s award winning bicycle program
• Scenic Byways Program
• Greenways Program
• Lewes Beekeeping Club (volunteer and educational club), 5 hives and a nuclear colony
• City’s overall level of volunteers
• No smoking at the Beach policy
• Gordon’s Pond Bike Trail
• Butterfly and pollinator gardens
• Historic herb garden
• National Historic landmark: Lightship Overfalls
• Lewes Historic Preservation Commission