DNREC should take hands-off approach

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is once again proposing plans that threaten to commercialize one of the state's most beloved natural treasures: Cape Henlopen State Park. This time, DNREC is seeking to add luxury cottages to the park’s pristine, undeveloped primitive camping area. We urge DNREC to abandon this plan, and keep Cape Henlopen as natural and untouched as possible.

Just a year ago, public outcry forced DNREC to scrap plans for a restaurant near the McBride Bathhouse, with many park visitors expressing concerns about overdevelopment and the commercialization of a place that is cherished for its tranquil beauty and natural resources. The plan prompted Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes, to draft legislation reinforcing what DNREC can and cannot do in the park.

However, the agency has returned with another proposal to add cottages in an area that has long been lauded for its unspoiled wilderness, a space where visitors can experience nature in its most raw and untouched form.

While we recognize and support efforts to enhance other parts of the park, such as the expansion of the Fort Miles historical site, renovations to the Biden Center for educational opportunities and the continued development of the park’s trail system for recreational use, introducing luxury cottages into a primitive area is a step too far. These cottages would disrupt the very essence of what makes Cape Henlopen so special – its sense of peace and connection to the natural world.

Cape Henlopen State Park is not just a local asset; it is a gem for all Delawareans, offering a place to unplug and immerse oneself in nature. By prioritizing luxury cottages over the preservation of the park’s natural beauty, DNREC risks sacrificing the site’s unique character for profit.

We urge DNREC and Gov.-elect Matt Meyer’s soon-to-be secretary, Greg Patterson, to reconsider these plans and instead focus on preserving the park’s wild, undeveloped areas. Let Cape Henlopen remain a place where visitors can experience the natural world in its purest form – untouched and uncommercialized.