Cape Henlopen Point opening to public Sept. 1

The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park, including a stretch of ocean beach and dunes, and a half mile along the bay shoreline, will reopen Saturday, Sept. 1. The Point was closed March 1 to protect threatened and endangered beachnesters and migratory shorebirds, including red knots, piping plovers, oyster catchers, least terns and other species.

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

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Divisions of Parks and Recreation, Fish and 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 Coastal Regional Administrator Pat Cooper. “DNREC is committed to providing protection for these species, hopefully to prevent them from disappearing in Delaware.”