Lisa McHugh, Lums Pond State Park; Scott Borino, Delaware Seashore State Park; Alana Delaney, Bellevue and Fox Point state parks; and Patrick Thompson, Alapocas Run and Wilmington state parks. /DNREC photos

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is pleased to announce four new superintendents at Delaware State Parks. Lisa McHugh is now the superintendent at Lums Pond State Park, Scott Borino is the superintendent at Delaware Seashore State Park, Alana Delaney has been named superintendent of Bellevue and Fox Point state parks, and Patrick Thompson is the superintendent of Alapocas Run and Wilmington state parks.

Lisa McHugh was previously the assistant park superintendent at Alapocas Run and Wilmington state parks from March 2020 to December 2022. McHugh started her career with the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation as a conservation technician at Wilmington parks in November 2006 and held that position until she was promoted to assistant park superintendent.

Scott Borino was promoted from his assistant superintendent position at Delaware Seashore State Park. He was first hired by the division in 2013 as the assistant superintendent at the Indian River Marina. He previously held positions as the community services manager and then executive director of the Edgemoor Community Center in Wilmington. Borino also served in the AmeriCorps VISTA program with the American Red Cross in Delaware and Maryland.

Alana Delaney transferred to Bellevue and Fox Point state parks after serving as the superintendent of Alapocas Run and Wilmington State Parks since 2018. She previously served as the assistant superintendent of Alapocas Run and assistant superintendent of Bellevue State Park. Prior to those roles with the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation, she worked in several others with the division including as naturalist and park patrol officer at White Clay Creek State Park, and volunteer coordinator for the northern and inland ponds regions of the Delaware State Parks system.

Pat Thompson moved from his position at the helm of Auburn Valley State Park to take Delaney’s place as superintendent of Alapocas Run and Wilmington Run state parks. Thompson started his DNREC career in 2004 at Bellevue State Park as a park patrol officer and assistant superintendent before becoming a conservation technician. He briefly left Delaware in 2009 to work for the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Bellingham, Wash., and returned to work in Delaware State Parks in 2010 as a conservation tech at Alapocas Run and Wilmington state parks. Thompson worked at Brandywine Creek State Park from 2015 to 2017, when he was promoted to assistant superintendent of Bellevue. Thompson then became the assistant park superintendent for Alapocas Run and Wilmington state parks before his promotion to superintendent of Auburn Valley State Park in 2020.

McHugh, Borino, Delaney and Thompson are responsible for all daily operations at their respective state parks, including supervision, scheduling and evaluation of staff; coordination of maintenance and visitor service programs; development and continuation of relationships with partners, adjacent landowners and community groups; and fiscal, programmatic and infrastructure planning.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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Due to extensive damage from flooding during the remnant of Hurricane Ida, the Bancroft Bridge in Alapocas Run State Park will be closed indefinitely and will need to be substantially repaired or possibly replaced. The bridge is a popular connector that crosses the Brandywine Creek between Rockford Park and Alapocas Run State Park, which is known for its cliffs made of blue rock gneiss.

The Bancroft Bridge in Alapocas Run State Park sustained extensive damage from flooding during the remnant of Hurricane Ida and will need to be substantially repaired or possibly replaced, meaning it will be closed indefinitely.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC)’s Division of Parks and Recreation closed the popular walking bridge after an initial inspection following the Sept. 2 flooding. This week a structural engineer further assessed the bridge and confirmed significant damage. The bridge was damaged from debris as floodwaters elevated to its lower structure. The bridge itself has bowed and shifted on its support beams and foundation, which has cracked.

Repairing the bridge would require a piece-by-piece evaluation and structural rebuild. Depending on the severity of the damage, the bridge may need to be demolished and a new bridge fabricated.

At this point, no timeframe can be given for finishing the assessment, the planning and design of whichever option is chosen, or funding and construction, but the bridge will be closed for an extended period of time.

Updates about the bridge’s repair or replacement progress will be shared on the DNREC’s Alapocas Run and Wilmington State Parks Facebook page.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Shauna McVey, shauna.mcvey@delaware.gov or Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov.

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Park’s pedestrian bridge over Brandywine River to be closed Oct. 12-27

WILMINGTON – DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation announced today that the southern section of Alapocas Run State Park along the Brandywine River will be closed Sunday, Oct. 15 for the implosion of a smokestack at the former Bancroft Mills site.

Parks Natural Resources Police will have a cordon in place Sunday from 6:30 a.m. until noon keeping spectators and park visitors 1,000 feet away from the demolition site. The safety zone distance for the smokestack implosion includes trails in and around Alapocas Run State Park. Trail areas impacted are the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail access points in Brandywine Park on North Park Drive, in Alapocas Woods on Alapocas Drive, and at the Alapocas ball fields trailhead located behind the DuPont Experimental Station.

The pedestrian bridge over the Brandywine River in the vicinity of Bancroft Mills will be closed from Thursday, Oct. 12 through Friday, Oct. 27 for the demolition of a building adjacent to the bridge and debris removal. Commuters and park visitors will need to plan alternatives routes until the bridge is reopened.

For more information, contact Alana Delaney, Alapocas Run State Park manager, at 302-577-1164.

Media Contact: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 47, No. 222

WILMINGTON – On the heels of its 10th anniversary celebration, the Can-Do Playground at Alapocas Run State Park has been selected to be featured on the national crowdfunding site, “Fund Your Park,” by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). The crowdfunding campaign launched this week by the NRPA, to raise $10,000 for the expansion of the unique playground administered by DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation.

The Can-Do Playground was chosen to be featured through the NRPA’s competitive grant process. “Fund Your Park” is a crowdfunding platform designed by NRPA exclusively for park and recreation agencies and donations can be made through a secure site at: http://www.fundyourpark.org/campaign/detail/4892.

“Strong partnerships have brought great results for the Can-Do Playground,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin. “Working with community partners such as the Wilmington Area Rotary Clubs and the NRPA, we have the opportunity to expand and enhance recreational experiences for Delaware residents and visitors of all abilities. The Can-Do Playground is a shining example of what ongoing support and dedication can accomplish.”

DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation and six greater Wilmington area Rotary Clubs — Brandywine Hundred, Brandywine Naamans, Caesar Rodney, Wilmington and Wilmington West Rotary Clubs — conceived and developed the playground a decade ago, and have reunited to revitalize and expand the state’s first barrier-free public playground for children of all abilities.

The Can-Do Playground promotes cooperative play between children with and without disabilities, and engages them in a wide range of activities essential to their social, emotional, cognitive and physical development.

The money raised for the project will:

• Expand the project’s footprint by 5,000 square feet, adding additional pieces of nature-themed interpretive equipment aimed at improving the play experience of children with intellectual disabilities and those with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder;
• Enhance the parent-child bonding experience with “expression swings,” configured with a face-to-face design;
• Replace play components worn by weather and use with panels that add auditory, tactile, and visual experiences throughout the playground;
• Optimize the rubberized surface to ensure ease of access for children with mobility disabilities; and

• Add an accessible area for picnic tables and ground level music activities.

The NRPA is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 50,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space.

Vol. 47, No. 167

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Trail improvements also announced

WILMINGTON – The Nemours Foundation has donated nearly 46 acres of significant forestland to the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation’s Alapocas Run State Park, located just outside Wilmington. The announcement was made today by Governor Jack Markell, DNREC Secretary David Small and Dr. Roy Proujansky, the Nemours Foundation’s chief executive of Delaware Valley Operations.

“Alapocas Run State Park is truly an amazing urban oasis to be enjoyed not only by the residents of Wilmington, but also for visitors from the tri-state area and beyond,” said Governor Jack Markell. “This generous donation by the Nemours Foundation, along with newly upgraded trails, will enable more people to experience the beauty and benefits of nature close to where they live and work, strengthening our quality of life while supporting continued economic growth.”

“Alfred I. du Pont understood the healing and therapeutic benefits of nature, for both children and their families,” said Dr. Roy Proujansky, chief executive of Delaware Valley Operations and Executive Vice President of The Nemours Foundation. “As stewards of Mr. du Pont’s legacy, it is fitting then that these lands be transferred to the state of Delaware and improved for the enjoyment of the community. We applaud Governor Markell and his administration for their continued partnership and tireless efforts to promote healthy living and a more walkable and bikeable Delaware.”

“With this generous addition of this lush, scenic park land, residents and visitors alike have even more opportunities to enjoy the diversity of trails that are more accessible, the Can-do playground, and all of the dozens of other amenities the park offers,” said DNREC Secretary David Small. “Alapocas Run State Park is a peaceful gem in an urban setting, providing a variety of activities and preserves a lasting natural legacy that enhances the quality of life for residents and users. It’s a special place to connect with nature and provide respite.”

In addition to the land donation, a section of the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail (part of the East Coast Greenway trail that goes from Maine to Florida) and a section of the Bancroft Trail have been upgraded to a paved surface, providing more accessibility and more year-round use and the opportunity to enjoy the mature woods and the rest of Alapocas Run State Park.

The two upgraded trail sections total about one mile. The Greenway Trail goes through Nemours Woods and connects the Delaware River to Brandywine Creek, passing through Bellevue State Park to Bringhurst Woods and Rockwood county parks to Wilmington’s Rock Manor Golf Course to Alapocas Run State Park.

The Bancroft Trail connects Alapocas Run State Park to Brandywine Park and the Brandywine Zoo. It passes through the Brandywine Park Condominiums, Wilmington Friends School and the Augustine Professional Building properties. These owners generously granted a trail easement through their lands in the 2000s.

“The Environmental Protection Agency is committed to supporting these types of collaborations that protect and preserve precious greenspace,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “It truly demonstrates the successful partnership the Nemours Foundation has with the state of Delaware in making a visible difference in our local communities.”

Nemours’ donation is part of a working partnership with Delaware State Parks that dates back more than 20 years. In the 1990s, a collaborative effort was begun to protect more public open space land along Brandywine Creek and around the City of Wilmington, by combining the resources of the city, county, state and the newly-created Delaware Greenways.

Through the state’s Open Space Program, Alapocas Run State Park began with an acquisition and land donation along Brandywine Creek. The state also assumed management of some city-owned parkland. At the same time the state, county, and city came together, along with the business community and area residents, to tackle a complex plan to realign Route 202 while maintaining the Rock Manor Golf Course and keeping and expanding the AstraZeneca pharmaceutical business in its current location.

During this very active time, Nemours and the Nemours Foundation were key players in many aspects of the overall project. Not only did they continue to run the world-renowned Alfred I. du Pont Hospital for Children and the Nemours Mansion & Gardens, the Nemours Foundation also provided land for a daycare center for the AstraZeneca employees and for road expansion. The foundation also provided valuable insight and information on the historic Blue Ball Barn, formerly part of the A.I. du Pont estate, now owned by Delaware State Parks.

A critical recreation component of this complicated project was a connection from Blue Ball Barn to Brandywine Creek through the Nemours Woods. This area was always recognized as an important landscape feature, protected and maintained by the A.I. du Pont family and then the Nemours Foundation. In 1999 the Nemours Foundation donated a conservation easement of more than 70 acres of this wooded area. It ensured that the area would not be developed and enabled a public use trail. Today’s announcement reflects the donation of 46 of these acres the State, while retaining the remaining 24 acres under conservation easement.

Media Contact: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 45, No. 407