Fee season now in effect in Delaware State Parks

DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation reminds visitors to Delaware’s state parks that entrance fees are back in effect, being collected through Nov. 30, 2017.

Revenue generated from park entrance fees is used to manage 16 state parks and more than 26,000 acres of state park lands. Delaware’s state parks are primarily self-funded, with 65 percent of revenue to operate and maintain the parks generated by park users. The revenue is used for trail maintenance, environmental and recreational programs, visitor amenities, guarded beaches, management of campgrounds, cabins and more.

The entrance fees remain unchanged from last year. However the annual pass has a new look. For the first time, the passes will adhere to the outside of the windshield. “So many of our park visitors had difficulty removing the pass, and tinted windows made it challenging for fee booth attendants and park rangers to see the pass,” said Division Park Administrator Mary Voshell. “It was time for the Division to move the pass to the outside of the windshields.”

Daily park entrance fees for vehicles registered in Delaware are $4 at inland parks and $5 at ocean parks. Fees for out-of-state vehicles are $8 at inland parks and $10 at ocean parks.

Where fee attendants are not on duty, visitors should deposit the daily fee in the self-registration envelopes provided at park entrances and place them in the designated secured drop boxes.

“Staff in the DNREC Division of Parks & Recreation understand the significance of each person paying a park entrance fee to support the operation and maintenance of the parks,” said Ray Bivens, director of the Division of Parks & Recreation. “It’s especially rewarding to be recognized as the 2016-17 National Gold Medal Award winner for excellence in the field of park and recreation management, a reflection of our parks staff’s commitment to providing quality customer service to park visitors.”

Annual passes are a convenient way to access the parks for the entire fee season. “For just $35, Delaware residents can enjoy unlimited park visits to get their children outdoors and visit the parks with friends and family,” Bivens added. “I want to thank all those who support our efforts to preserve and protect open space, improve services and expand recreational opportunities.”

For individuals 62 and older with Delaware license plates, annual passes cost $18. Seniors with an out-of-state registered vehicle pay $35. A $65 Lifetime Pass is available for Delawareans 65 and older. Reduced rates are also offered to Delawareans who receive public assistance, are active duty military or veterans.  Active duty military personnel with an out-of-state license plate can purchase an annual pass at the in-state rate.  Please visit www.destateparks.com  for further information and requirements.

In addition, the new Corporate Pass program offers participating businesses, nonprofits and other groups discounted annual passes for their employees. “These passes give employers a way to promote health and wellness in the workplace, while providing employees with a benefit they can feel good about,” said Bivens. For more information or to purchase corporate passes please contact Caroline Foltz at caroline.foltz@delaware.gov.

Vehicle entrance fees are charged at the following state parks: Alapocas Run, Bellevue, Brandywine Creek, Cape Henlopen, Beach Plum Island Nature Preserve, Delaware Seashore, Fenwick Island, Fort DuPont, Fox Point, Holts Landing, Killens Pond, Lums Pond, Trap Pond, and White Clay Creek. The Brandywine Zoo and Fort Delaware charge individual fees to enter the zoo and ride the ferry to Fort Delaware.

Parks officials remind customers that annual passes and surf fishing permits can be purchased online to save time when they visit a park during fee season. “Many times park visitors wait until they visit a park before purchasing their season pass, but this can take extra time away from enjoying the park,” Voshell added. “By purchasing the pass online, park visitors avoid the lines at the park offices.”

Annual park passes may be purchased online at www.destateparks.com, at all park offices, at DNREC’s main office in the Richardson & Robbins building at 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and at six retail locations.

For more information visit: http://www.destateparks.com/fees/passes/index.asp

Vol. 47, No. 49

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Pinelands Nature Trail at Cape Henlopen State Park has reopened

LEWES  – The Pinelands Nature Trail at Cape Henlopen State Park reopened today following tree maintenance work. The trail closed Feb. 17 when Division of Parks & Recreation staff noticed that trees had fallen on – or were leaning over – the trail. Parks staff removed a number of those trees within the trail to ensure public safety.

Most of the trees taken from the trail were in a low-lying area near the trailhead adjacent the Seaside Nature Center Parking area.

 


The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park to close for 2017 beachnesting season

LEWES  – The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park, including a stretch of ocean beach and dunes, and a half mile along the bay shoreline, will close beginning Wednesday, March 1, for the benefit of threatened and endangered beachnesters and migratory shorebirds, including red knot, piping plovers, oystercatchers, least terns and other species.

The nesting habitat on the ocean side will reopen Sept. 1. The bayside beach will remain closed until Oct. 1 for use by shorebirds migrating south for the winter.

DNREC’s Divisions of Parks & Recreation, Fish & Wildlife and Watershed Stewardship have been working together since 1990 to implement a management plan to halt the decline of beachnester and migratory shorebird populations. The Point has been closed annually since 1993.

“We appreciate the public’s cooperation in this effort,” said Park Superintendent Paul Faircloth. “DNREC is committed to providing protection for these species, hopefully to prevent them from disappearing in Delaware.”

For more information, contact Cape Henlopen State Park at 302-645-8983.

Vol. 47, No. 44

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New website launched to help Delawareans locate parks

Dover –In an effort to encourage more children and their families to enjoy the outdoors and outdoor-related activity year-round, Delaware State Parks has launched “Play Outside,” a new website for Delaware residents and visitors that provides convenient and detailed information about public parks and facilities in Delaware.

Residents and visitors can now find nearby public outdoor recreation areas including municipal, county and state park lands or recreational facilities such as playgrounds, ball fields, fishing piers, trails, parking and even restrooms, using an interactive online web map. The site is mobile device- friendly and can also track users’ current locations to help them navigate along the many miles of trails that Delaware has to offer.

“We are very excited about ‘Play Outside,’” said Ray Bivens, director of DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation. “It fits perfectly with the mission of the Delaware Children in Nature Initiative by promoting healthy lifestyles, providing better access to green space and creating opportunities for families to get outdoors. This is an amazing resource for all Delawareans.”

Play Outside is a single online information source that allows users to find public parks as well as exact locations of outdoor recreation facilities within parks and wildlife areas throughout the state. It includes all areas in the public trust managed by towns, cities, counties and state agencies in Delaware. The website is designed to serve those looking for outdoor recreation opportunities, places to be immersed in nature or to conduct active lifestyles. Users can locate parks close to home or in less-developed places such as wildlife areas.

“The public can find a softball field or playground near home, 10 miles away, or in a nearby town or county,” Bivens said. “Children and their families can find the location of all trails in Delaware, or navigate to fishing spots statewide.  These are just a few of the powerful functions this web tool offers its users.”

During a ceremony today to launch the new website, Nemours Children’s Health System, a key partner in the fight against childhood obesity, praised the effort. “Nemours and Delaware State Parks have enjoyed a long-standing partnership focused on getting kids active in the outdoors,” said Dr. George Datto, the division chief of Weight Management at  Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. “Encouraging kids to be active and instilling this healthy habit early is so important because of all of the health benefits physical activity offers: maintenance of a healthy weight, avoidance of chronic diseases and better mental health to name a few,” Datto added. “Delaware State Parks’ Play Outside website is a wonderful resource for Delaware families that is going to make it a lot easier for parents and caregivers to identify nearby parks and trails where they can go with their kids to enjoy quality time and be active together.”

Play Outside was developed in partnership with DNREC, the Division of Parks & Recreation and the Delaware Department of Technology and Information. Geographic Information System (GIS) software, aerial photography and an Outdoor Recreation Inventory are combined to deliver park and outdoor activity information on the new website, which includes a variety of search functions.

Information on new facilities is regularly added to a database – the Outdoor Recreation Inventory (ORI). The ORI and Play Outside websites are maintained by these state agencies.

Find the Play Outside website at de.gov/playoutside.

Vol. 47, No. 41


DNREC, DHSS now accepting grant proposals for wastewater, surface water, and drinking water project planning

Proposals due by February 22

DOVER– DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship and office of Environmental Finance, and the Department of Health and Social Services’ (DHSS) Division of Public Health are now accepting project proposals from state, county and municipal governments and governmental subdivisions for matching grants for wastewater, surface water and drinking water project planning. Proposals must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 22, 2017.

Eligible projects include planning, preliminary engineering and feasibility analysis of: wastewater and/or drinking water projects; stormwater retrofits; green technology practices; stream and wetland restoration projects; small watershed studies; master surface water and drainage plans; and other source water pollution control projects.

Wastewater Planning Grants assist with wastewater infrastructure project planning and design necessary to submit a loan application for funding consideration. Surface Water Planning Grants support projects and activities that focus on reducing surface water runoff and improving water quality in impaired watersheds. Drinking Water Planning Grants help municipal water systems prepare for large, often costly projects such as troubleshooting source water quality and proposing solutions, reconfiguring water plants to optimize treatment, and determining water main size and locations, among other activities.

Grant applications of up to $50,000 will be considered with a one-to-one cash match requirement. Up to 10 percent of the grant funds may be used for administrative costs. There is an annual cumulative grant award cap of $100,000 per successful applicant per fiscal year.

The Wastewater, Drinking Water and Surface Water Matching Planning Grant programs are set-asides in the State’s Clean Water and Drinking Water Revolving Funds. Projects will be recommended for funding by the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council through a competitive grant process.

For a Wastewater Matching Planning Grant, the project guidelines and the application can be found online by clicking Wastewater Matching Planning Grant. Proposals must be submitted by email (less than 10 MB) to Greg.Pope@delaware.gov.

For a Surface Water Matching Planning Grant, the project guidelines and the application can be found online at Surface Water Matching Planning Grant. Proposals must be submitted by email (less than 10 MB) to James.Sullivan@delaware.gov.

For a Drinking Water Matching Planning Grant, the project guidelines and the application can be found online at Drinking Water Matching Planning Grant. Proposals must be submitted by email (less than 10 MB) to Heather.Warren@delaware.gov.

For more information, contact Greg Pope, Environmental Finance at 302-739-9941, Jim Sullivan, Division of Watershed Stewardship at 302-739-9922, or Heather Warren, DHSS’ Division of Public Health at 302-744-4739.

Media Contact:  Melanie Rapp, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 47, No. 18