DELAWARE CITY – You’re invited to see history in action at a special “Living History Weekend” on Aug. 8 and 9 at Fort Delaware State Park.

During this special weekend, Fort Delaware will come alive with re-enactors and historians dressed as they would have during the American Civil War. Visitors will be offered a fascinating and unique look at what life was like at Fort Delaware during the 1860s, including prisoners being processed, mail call and firing demonstrations of various 19th century weapons.

Fort Delaware lies on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River and can only be accessed by ferry. Entry fees and most programming fees are included in the price of a ferry ticket: adult $12; children $7; seniors and members of the military $11. The ferry departs from the dock in Delaware City.

Fort Delaware is open Wednesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Ferry tickets may be purchased online at destateparks.com or by phone at 877-987-3757. Additional information about Fort Delaware is available at 302-834-7941. More programs in all Delaware State Parks can be found at destateparks.com/programs.

Media Contacts: Jake Miller, Fort Delaware State Park, 302-834-7941; Riley Hays, Delaware State Parks, 302-739-9249 or riley.hays@delaware.gov; or Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 45, No. 256

DOVER (June 1, 2015) – The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), has announced that DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation (Delaware State Parks) is one of four finalists for the 2015 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management in the state parks systems category. The award recognizes state agencies as judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of citizens, staff and elected officials.

“We are honored to be recognized as a finalist for such an esteemed award,” said Ray Bivens, director, Division of Parks & Recreation and Delaware State Parks. “It is truly a testament of the hard work and dedication of Parks staff and volunteers who make the park system safe, fun, educational and innovative. Being recognized as a Gold Medal finalist is a wonderful way to highlight the amenities that make Delaware State Parks one of the finest state park systems in the country.”

“For a state of Delaware’s size, the diversity of our state parks system is amazing – you can canoe and kayak among the bald cypresses at Trap Pond State Park and feel like you’re in the bayous of the South, or go to our beaches that rank among the cleanest in the country, or visit a former DuPont estate to take in a concert or go rock-climbing at Alapocas State Park,” Delaware Gov. Jack Markell said. “The amenities and experiences and landscapes that Delaware State Parks provide are world-class, and the state parks system overseen by DNREC is richly deserving of this accolade.”

Along with Delaware, other finalists in the state parks system category were: Georgia State Parks Recreation and Historic Sites Division, Missouri State Parks and Wyoming State Parks Historic Sites and Trails. The Gold Medal Award winner will be announced at the 2015 NRPA Annual Conference in Las Vegas in September.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary with NRPA and founded in 1965, the Gold Medal Awards program honors communities in the U.S. that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and agency recognition. For more information on the Gold Medal Awards, visit www.nrpa.org/goldmedal or www.aapra.org.

DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation is the steward of more than 39,000 acres of open space, including 16 state parks and irreplaceable cultural and natural resources. Delaware State Parks is committed to providing Delaware’s residents and visitors with safe and enjoyable recreational opportunities and a variety of interpretive and educational services. Please visit www.destateparks.com for more information about Delaware State Parks.

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration is a non-profit organization founded to advance knowledge related to the administration of recreation and parks; to encourage scholarly efforts by both practitioners and educators that would enhance the practice of park and recreation administration; to promote broader public understanding of the importance of parks and recreation to the public good; and, to conduct research, publish scholarly papers and sponsor seminars related to the advancement of park and recreation administration. For more information, visit www.aapra.org.

The National Recreation and Park Association 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 more than 47,000 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. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.

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

Vol. 45, No. 175

YORKLYN – DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation kicked off the second phase of a project designed to revitalize the town of Yorklyn in the northwest corner of the state into a vibrant, lively and scenic centerpiece while still retaining its mill town roots.

Plans are moving forward after a public-private partnership was established to map out the future of the town. Today, Governor Jack Markell, DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara and numerous other officials were on hand as DNREC hosted a groundbreaking event to mark the end of Phase 1 and the beginning of Phase 2 of the project, the Auburn Valley Master Plan. The project is expected to boost economic development and ecological restoration in the scenic area, and add to state parkland at the Auburn Heights Preserve located in the Red Clay Valley near the Pennsylvania state line.

“What you see here is the beginning of a new era in Yorklyn. It also represents the best example of how the state can work with private and public partners to build something truly special that benefits everyone in the community,” said Governor Jack Markell. “This project will be unique in its aesthetics and make Yorklyn a shining historic treasure for Delaware tourism.”

At the event, officials acknowledged completion of the $1.6-million, FEMA-funded demolition of the corporate headquarters of the former NVF manufacturing plant and zinc treatment facility, and began the demolition project for the main plant – making way for the unique redevelopment site that will include historic buildings, wetlands, flood mitigation areas and multi-use trails.

“This is one of the most complex public-private projects in the nation that transforms a shuttered site into a model of preservation, and redevelopment that will bring economic opportunity and prosperity to the area,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara. “The site is undergoing an environmental cleanup of nearly a century of historic contamination, as well as a stream restoration project that will not only improve water quality and protect fish in the Red Clay Creek, but will also reduce the severe flooding that has resulted in significant economic impacts to Yorklyn. With the beautiful, historic setting of Yorklyn as a backdrop, we believe the synergy created by the master plan – which includes a trail, an antique car loop, and steam railroad – will make this a uniquely Delaware destination.”

The goal of the public-private partnership is to reclaim the former mill town by cleaning up contaminated areas, restoring floodplains and expanding on tourism-drawing development. Not only does the plan call for shopping and restaurant development, but also a trail system that will connect the new commercial sites with historic and natural areas, in addition to connecting to existing attractions like the Marshall Steam Museum and the Delaware Nature Society.

The partnership is made up of private developers, neighboring organizations, and several divisions of DNREC, including the Division of Parks and Recreation, the Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances’ Site Investigation and Restoration Section, and the Division of Water. Partners outside DNREC include the Delaware Economic Development Office, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the court-appointed trustee for NVF, and Auburn Village LLC. The project was further bolstered by strong support from neighboring property owners, as well as conservation and recreational organizations in the Yorklyn area.

The Auburn Heights Preserve, part of the Delaware State Parks system, is home to the historic Marshall estate, which is managed through a partnership between Delaware State Parks and the Friends of Auburn Heights Preserve. The Friends group owns a world-class collection of operating vintage steam cars, including 14 Stanley Steamers and the miniature Auburn Valley Railroad.

The NVF Company produced vulcanized fiber and related products in Yorklyn until declaring bankruptcy in April 2009.