Wheeler’s Park was a beloved destination for families in Harrington and communities throughout Kent and Sussex counties for nearly thirty years. What began as a single picnic table grew into a popular recreational park known locally as the “Disneyland of Harrington.”
On Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., that history will be formally recognized with the unveiling of a new State of Delaware Historical Marker at 428 Harrington Avenue in Harrington.
Wheeler’s Park was established in 1948 by Harrington resident William A. Wheeler, who continued expanding the park over the years, adding attractions and amenities that made it a destination for children and families, including playgrounds, pony rides, a miniature railroad, nature trails, and other family attractions. The park also became a gathering place for the broader community, hosting church picnics and annual company events for Dover Air Force Base and businesses from throughout Kent and Sussex counties. For many local families, Wheeler’s Park provided one of the area’s few opportunities for children’s entertainment before closing in 1977.
The unveiling ceremony will bring together members of the Harrington community, local and state leaders, and representatives from the Delaware Public Archives, which administers the Historical Markers Program.
About the State of Delaware Historical Markers Program:
The State of Delaware Historical Markers Program traces its origins to 1929, when Governor C. Douglass Buck appointed a committee to review Delaware’s notable historic sites and develop a way to identify them. In 1931, the General Assembly of Delaware passed an act establishing a commission to erect historical markers throughout the state. The markers in each county were numbered sequentially as they were proposed, preceded by NC (New Castle), K (Kent), and S (Sussex) to note the county in which they were located. Since the 1930s, the State of Delaware has erected over 700 markers. The Delaware Public Archives has administered the Historical Markers Program since 1990.
For more information about the Delaware Public Archives or to learn more about events and other items of interest at the Archives, visit archives.delaware.gov, and follow on Facebook and Instagram.