Carney celebrates improvements at Cape Henlopen State Park
Cape Henlopen State park is the crown jewel of the Delaware Park System, says Gov. John Carney.
“When you think about the value of tourism here in Delaware, most of it is about our natural heritage,” he said. “It’s about the outdoors, the ocean, the bays. Delaware is a pretty special place, and this is probably one of the most special places in our state.”
Carney along with Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn Garvin were on hand May 22 to celebrate the completion of major upgrades to the park.
One of the largest efforts came in the campground area, where a $1.7 million grant from the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund helped pay for $4 million in upgrades.
More than 100 RV sites now have electrical and water connections – electric was the No. 1 request in surveys and camper feedback. Paved pads are now available for 20-, 40- and 50-foot RVs. Every campsite is now equipped with a picnic table and fire ring.
A larger, new camp store in the center of the campground features expanded laundry and camper washing accommodations. The store supplies campers with many essentials they may have forgotten.
A new playground between the bathhouse and the camp store creates a space where children can play while parents shop.
The renovations were the first since the campground was installed in the 1970s. DNREC has been the recipient of about five other grants over the years, totaling more than $5 million. Delaware as a whole has received $38 million, said Joel Lynch, chief of State and Local Assistance Programs of the National Park Service.
“Preserving places like this for the family environment and for the kids is really a great thing,” he said.
Following a short ceremony, Carney, Garvin and Lynch joined state representatives Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes; Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach; Rep. Dave Wilson, R-Bridgeville; and Lewes Mayor Ted Becker to cut the ribbon on the campground improvements.
The group then toured the rest of Cape Henlopen State Park to highlight other improvements at the Seaside Nature Center and ongoing efforts at the Fort Miles Historical Park.
The centerpiece of the new Nature Center is a 495-gallon touch tank, where children have an opportunity to touch sting rays, horseshoe crabs and other marine critters. The center also features a reptile room and several aquariums with fish and marine life that can be found along Delaware’s coast.
Fort Miles continues to beef up its operation. Volunteers of the Fort Miles Historical Association took the delegation on a tour of the park, showcasing the new 90 mm gun, similar to one used at Fort Miles at the end of World War II. The tour included a brisk walk through Battery 519, where Carney was pleased to push the button to simulate the shooting of Fort Miles’ big gun.
