DNREC exceeds expected seasonal revenue at Deauville Beach

As the fee-collecting season comes to an end in Delaware’s state parks, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is reporting that it has exceeded the expected revenue at Deauville Beach.

Total revenue generated through Oct. 28 was $180,524, said Michael Globetti, DNREC spokesperson. The estimated number was about $170,000. Rehoboth reported revenue of $120,000 the previous season, he said.

This past summer was the first time in 50 years the state oversaw operations at Deauville Beach in Rehoboth Beach. The beach area is immediately north of the Boardwalk and falls within Rehoboth Beach limits, but it’s owned by the state. The city had overseen operations, but the lease with DNREC expired last year, and the two sides couldn’t reach an agreement to continue the arrangement.

Ultimately, in February, the Division of Parks and Recreation assumed control of the area, which includes 600 yards of beach, a parking lot, tennis courts and the dune crossings coming from Surf Avenue.

The typical cost to enter a state park for in-state vehicles is $5 per car and $10 per car for out-of-state vehicles. As part of the change over, the state created a Deauville-specific fee structure – a $115 annual pass, $15 per day for a weekday, $20 per day for a weekend day – to discourage visitors to Rehoboth Beach from parking in the parking lot and walking into town.

The division sold 445 annual passes for the 2024 season, which was about 89% of the 500 pass goal, said Globetti.

Automated fee machines are still in place and have been utilized 2,410 times for the season year to date, said Globetti. The division had two machines in the lot compared to the one the city previously had, he said.

The state also exceeded projected revenue despite not starting to collect revenue until Memorial Day weekend – months after the fee season began March 1 for the rest of the state parks. The division’s fee collection season runs through Nov.  30, so it’s likely the revenue total will increase slightly.

Transition went well

The state’s Parks and Recreation Council held its quarterly meeting Nov. 7. The operations at Deauville Beach weren’t discussed, but a 45-page report prepared for the council going over all state parks did provide some insight into how things went this past summer.

“In general, the management transfer from City of Rehoboth to Delaware State Parks at Deauville Beach went well this season,” said the report.

There was a transition period as patrons adjusted to the park’s carry-in, carry-out program and beach cleaning schedule, said the report. There were complaints along the way and some hold outs who still wanted trash cans, but by the end of the season most patrons understood how and why the state operates the way it does, said the report.

Rehoboth Beach may not have overseen operations, but the city, at its cost, did provide trash cans and trash removal services at the street ends of dune crossings.

The report said the biggest operational challenges on the management side were technical issues with the credit card pay system, but the lot was set up with two units, and at least one remained functional for most of the season. The division now has a maintenance contract in place to keep fee machines operational, said the report.

Possible fee increase

During the council meeting, state Parks Director Ray Bivens said park operation costs continue to rise and that a fee increase may be warranted. It’s been nine years since the last increase, he said.

Following the meeting, Globetti said no fee increases are currently planned. The division also shared during the meeting that it has requested general fund support to help offset rising expenses, but the division will not know until next fiscal year if it will be included in the budget, he said.

Capacity closures

This summer, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Delaware State Parks within the coastal region saw a total of 103 closures due to capacity, said the council report. Cape Henlopen State Park had to manage closures 34 different times – 16 at the main entrance, nine at Gordons Pond and nine at Deauville Beach. There were 69 capacity closures managed at Delaware Seashore State Park; 29 of which were for Fenwick Island State Park.