Peaceful. Serene. Captivating.
These are the words used by visitors and residents alike when describing their time in Zwaanendael Park, affectionately known locally as Z Park.
Located at the corner of Savannah Road and Kings Highway, Zwaanendael Park chronicles the heritage of Lewes and displays colorful images of summer at its best.
The Park is home to the Zwaanendael Museum, built in 1931 to commemorate Delaware’s first European colony established in 1631 by Dutch settlers, and the 18th century Fisher-Martin House, which also is home to the Lewes Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center. The park is anchored by a central fountain surrounded by benches providing an opportunity to sit and relax surrounded by nature.
Along Kings Highway, the park contains the Fisher-Martin Herb Garden, an authentic 1700’s colonial herb garden. It is planted with herbs that were used by colonial housewives for culinary and medicinal purposes, as well as for dyeing fabric and repelling bugs and offensive odors. The plants and herbs in the garden, as researched with materials provided by Colonial Williamsburg and the Nanticoke Museum, were also used by the Native Americans of the Cape Henlopen region. The willow fence and arbors represent the type of fencing that was used in colonial times.
The park gardens were originally planted in 1984 by a group of Lewes residents and were maintained by Sussex County Master Gardeners. Today, the park is always alive with colorful flowers and beautiful plants thanks to the efforts of Lewes in Bloom, a local volunteer beautification organization, which has won national awards for its work in the City of Lewes.
