The Nanticoke Watershed Alliance (NWA) held an open house and ribbon-cutting last Friday at its new headquarters at 121 S. Conwell Street in Seaford. The office is located in a former home adjacent to the city of Seaford’s Oyster House Park along the Nanticoke River.

NWA Executive Director Lisa Wool said they came to her organization with idea of buying property. NWA had outgrown its office space and overstayed its lease.

“What started out as a grain of sand developed into a beautiful pearl,” she said, adding that the site will be used to help people learn about nature. The property is rent and mortgage-free.

“A day like today reminds me about teamwork and what’s happening in the city of Seaford. It was a no-brainer for the city of Seaford. We jumped at it,” said Mayor Matt MacCoy.

Chesapeake Conservancy Board Director and Chair Emeritus Randall Larrimore presented a flag to MacCoy. Larrimore donated a pole, which was installed behind the building earlier this summer (the city owns the rear of the property).

“Delaware has always been home. Seaford meant a lot growing up,” said Larrimore, a Seaford native whose business career has taken him to New York and Europe.

Larimore said Oyster House Park, which includes a kayak launch and boardwalk, was built so Seaford residents could have access to the river. An amphitheater is planned on the slope behind the NWA building.

“I think it’s really going to be a good asset for the city of Seaford,” he said.

“What was once an oyster house is now a vibrant park,” added Chesapeake Conservancy CEO Susan Shingledecker. Her agency has conserved over 3,400 acres of land conserved along the Nanticoke River, which is connected to 19,000 acres.

“The Nanticoke River is truly special. It is the Everglades of the north,” said Shingledecker.

State Senator Stephanie Hansen, who grew up in Seaford, said Delaware was the only state in the Mid-Atlantic with no freshwater protection. Senate Bill 9 will provide protection for Nanticoke River and watershed. It was passed and signed a couple months ago and now the regulations are being worked on.

DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson spoke about his agency’s work with the NWA to help with Chesapeake Bay clean up goals. The NWA’s Creekwatchers program monitors three dozen sites on the Nanticoke River and its tributaries.

“We’ve made real measurable progress over the years together,” he said.

The new NWA headquarters is part of a partnership between NWA, the city of Seaford, and Chesapeake Conservancy to expand and enhance the Oyster House Park area.

Potential programming and amenities associated with the site include:

• Native exhibition gardens showcasing plants that support pollinators, wildlife, and a healthy watershed.

• Educational programming for families, volunteers, and community members focused on the Nanticoke River, watershed health, native plants, and conservation.

• Expanded Oyster House Park and waterfront recreation, creating additional opportunities for residents and visitors to experience and enjoy the river.

• Community events and gatherings, providing a welcoming space for environmental programs, volunteer activities, workshops and celebrations.

• Outdoor learning opportunities, connecting visitors with the river and demonstrating conservation practices in a real-world setting.

• Volunteer and stewardship opportunities, allowing community members to participate directly in maintaining and improving the property and surrounding watershed.

• Partnership programming, bringing together conservation organizations, schools, municipalities and community groups around shared goals for the Nanticoke.

The event also marked the kickoff of NWA’s new “Donor Recognition Wall” fundraising initiative, recognizing the individuals, families, businesses and organizations whose support will help NWA grow its programs and continue its work throughout the Nanticoke River watershed.