Sussex County Land Trust Receives 2026 Conservation Stewardship Award for Hudson Park Project

The Sussex County Land Trust (SCLT) has been selected as the 2026 Conservation Stewardship Award winner in the Green Conservation Category by the Sussex Conservation District (SCD), recognizing the organization’s commitment to responsible land management, stormwater planning, and long-term environmental stewardship.

SCLT will be formally honored at the Conservation Stewardship Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, March 11, at Plantation Lakes Golf & Country Club.

The annual awards program recognizes organizations that go above and beyond Delaware’s Sediment and Stormwater Regulations to protect and preserve natural resources. This year’s submissions were reviewed by a diverse panel representing Sussex County, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), the Sussex Preservation Coalition, and the Sussex Conservation District.

SCLT’s award-winning application focused on Stephen P. Hudson Park, a conservation-managed public park and trailhead along the Georgetown–Lewes Trail. Formerly an agricultural field, Hudson Park was intentionally designed using phased construction and infiltration-based stormwater best management practices to limit disturbance, manage runoff, reduce erosion, and preserve surrounding forested land.

“Hudson Park represents the kind of thoughtful, conservation-first approach that Sussex County needs as growth continues,” said Sara Bluhm, Executive Director of the Sussex County Land Trust. “This recognition reflects the collaboration, persistence, and long-term stewardship that went into ensuring the project performs as intended.”

Key project partners included Scaled Engineering, which provided site design and stormwater engineering; Nally Ventures, which supported site construction; Envirotech Environmental Consulting, which completed corrective forebay and inlet stabilization work to ensure long-term stormwater performance; and the Hollymount 4-H Club, whose members assisted with the removal of temporary erosion and sediment controls once the site was stabilized and approved.

Hudson Park also serves as the future home of a Can-Do Playground, a universally accessible playground project led by the Sussex County Rotary Clubs, reinforcing the importance of durable infrastructure and responsible land stewardship as public use expands.

As Sussex County continues to grow, the Land Trust increasingly serves as a conservation-based provider of public parks and open space in the absence of a centralized county parks department. Projects like Hudson Park demonstrate how public access, recreation, and environmental protection can coexist through intentional planning and strong partnerships.

For more information about Hudson Park or the Sussex County Land Trust, visit www.sclandtrust.org.

The Sussex County Land Trust (SCLT) is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to protecting natural, agricultural, cultural, and recreational resources in Sussex County, Delaware. Established in 2001, the Trust works to preserve open space and create a countywide network of parks and preserves that provide public access, support passive recreation, and promote environmental education. Through strategic partnerships, land acquisitions, and community engagement, SCLT is committed to safeguarding the county’s unique landscapes for current and future generations. For more information, visit www.sclandtrust.org.