trail camera deer picture, Radovan Zierik

DNREC, Ag Dept. ban use of trail cameras at state parks

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

Trail cameras for recreational use are no longer allowed in state wildlife areas, state parks or state forests, largely because of their proliferation. The new rule was announced Thursday by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Delaware Department of Agriculture. The ban is effective immediately and doesn’t apply to private property. Prime Hook and Bombay …

free concerts

Free concerts Mondays, Wednesdays at Wilmington State Parks

Ken MammarellaCulture, Headlines

Wilmington State Parks will host free concerts twice a week this summer. The concerts are 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Rockford Tower in Rockford Park and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Sugar Bowl in Brandywine Park, south of the Brandywine Zoo. RELATED: Bellevue State Park announces summer concerts 42 nights of free music at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand Free concerts, movies and …

lifeguard Delaware State Parks Beach Patrol

Hopefuls start tryouts for State Parks lifeguard jobs

Rachel Swick MavityCulture, Headlines

Delaware State Parks Beach Patrol Capt. Bailey Noel wants to have all four park-managed beaches open this summer. But he needs to recruit 20 to 30 new beach patrol lifeguards to do that. Last year, the Tower Road beach had to be closed most weekends outside of holidays because he didn’t have the staff to guard the beach.  Noel estimates …

The Gordons Pond Trail at Cape Henlopen State Park. (Courtesy of DNREC)

Del. State Parks set attendance record: 8 million-plus

Ken MammarellaCulture, Headlines

Delaware State Parks set another attendance record in 2022, with more than 8 million visitors. Attendance at the 17 Delaware state parks has increased each year since 2015. In the past five years, visitation is up 37%. The most visited state park in 2022 was Cape Henlopen, with 1.9 million visitors. Alapocas Run, Auburn Valley, Brandywine Zoo, Fort Delaware and Killens …

Offshore wind Indian River Bridge

Delaware state parks offer after-dark fun

Ken MammarellaCulture, Headlines

Delaware state parks are typically open 8 a.m. to sunset, but they also host interesting evening events. Three types of nighttime events – lantern tours, full-moon hikes and hikes looking for nocturnal creatures – occur at several of the state’s 17 parks. A fourth – to marvel at the beauty of the Indian River Inlet Bridge – is a specialty …

DE State Parks

Delaware State Parks on track to set visitation record

Charles MegginsonCulture, Headlines

After breaking attendance records in 2021, Delaware State Parks is on pace to set another visitor attendance mark by the end of 2022, DNREC announced Friday. In 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation had 47,250 active annual passes that allow daily entry into Delaware State Parks compared with 61,744 in 2021, a 31% increase. …

Surf Tags 7

Delaware State Parks annual pass, surf fishing permit sales delayed

Charles MegginsonCulture, Government, Headlines

Delaware drive-on beach surf fishing tags will not go on sale until at least early 2022, DNREC says. The sale of 2022 Delaware State Parks annual passes and surf fishing permits will be delayed as a result of ongoing nationwide supply chain disruptions. DNREC officials anticipate delivery of the tags in early 2022 and will begin sales online, in state …

a close up of a pond

Delaware state parks receive national award for excellence

Charles MegginsonCulture, Headlines

Trap Pond State Park. Photo courtesy of DNREC. Delaware’s state parks have won a national award for excellence in park and recreation management. The recognition from the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration and National Recreation and Park Association is judged on long-range planning, resource management, innovation and fiscal responsibility. This marks the second time Delaware’s state parks received …

Charter schools in Delaware receive funding based on the spending of districts.

Charter schools hope report sparks more transparent funding

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Although they are not traditional district schools, Delaware’s charter schools are still public, which means they will be affected by any changes from the long-awaited funding assessment  released last week. The $700,000 report by the American Institutes for Research was required as part of a settlement of a lawsuit charging the state was not adequately or fairly educating children. Now …

wind farm

State starts negotiating wind farm cable landing at Seashore park

Betsy PriceCulture, Headlines

Delaware will negotiate a deal with US Wind for its two wind farms, including a $350,000 a year cable landing on Delaware Seashore State Park, as well as energy credits and funding for workforce and environmental projects. The move comes after years of public controversy over whether wind power is a viable renewable source of energy and will reduce costs …