Out and About in Delaware's State Parks

There is something different in the air today. It’s Monday morning, a little over a week since the crowds and celebrations of July 4th. Another hot, sunny day is predicted, the norm for this summer. The difference today, however, is we actually had rain in the parched resort area! Granted, yesterday’s rainfall was a fraction of what the area really needs. Still, there’s a freshness in the air today that builds one’s hope for additional relief in the weeks to come.

I started this morning at 6 a.m., prepared for the normal 50-minute commute to my office in Dover. Memories of a wonderful weekend full of social activities and friends must have clouded my brain-I completely forgot to put on my helmet and gear before entering my car to brave the “mad” Monday morning race north!

Unlike other times of the year or even other days of the week, the Monday morning journey is a completely different experience. It begins with cars jockeying for position as they travel through the series of traffic lights that dot the Route 1 corridor. Generally, only minor adjustments in position occur for most vehicles prior to arriving at the true “starting line” at Five Points. There, vehicles of every shape and size line up as anxious people wait behind the wheel, worrying that they might not get to work on time.

This morning’s group seemed especially ready for the challenge. The light changed and we were off! Right away I found myself surrounded by cars with nervous drivers trying to get around me. And it’s not as if I was puttering along! Truth be told, I normally hold my own in the race northward. But this morning was different, huge trucks and sports cars were passing me like I was standing still. As wave after wave of cars engulfed me, I found myself caught up in the need to “keep up.” Cars continued to bob and weave around me and I was getting tense and frustrated-after all it was only 6 a.m.! Where were all these cars coming from? What were they doing on the road at this hour?

The tension continued to build. Realizing that I had gotten caught up in the frenzy of my fellow commuters, I immediately slowed down, much to the frustration of the other drivers. I finished the trip to Dover, receiving numerous dirty looks from drivers forced to pass me. I think they were disappointed that I had pulled out of the race.

My adrenaline was still pumping as I rolled into the parking lot considerably earlier than normal. I made a vow I would not let myself get caught up in this “race” again. There are still a lot of Monday mornings left in this summer and I want to be around to enjoy them!

The summer of 2002 continues to be a very busy one for Delaware State Parks. The hot, dry weather we’ve experienced throughout this season has been luring large crowds to all our facilities. That was especially true over the July 4th holiday. The entire week, parking lots throughout our coastal parks reached capacity. At Cape Henlopen State Park, the popular Gordons Pond lot filled up on numerous occasions. Savvy visitors quickly learned that they had to arrive at the park early to guarantee a place on the beach. Of course, that simply resulted in the area reaching capacity even earlier in the day. Thankfully, most visitors were patient and understood the situation. With great weather, huge crowds and few problems or accidents to report, I think we can declare July 4th a tremendous success!

At Cape Henlopen, there is still a great deal of activity from projects going on around the Gordons Pond area. The first phase of the parking lot project is essentially completed and landscaping around the lot will be completed this autumn. If all goes well, a picnic pavilion will be constructed on the northern end of the lot by next summer.

For the next few months, visitors to Gordons Pond might also notice work being done in the marshes surrounding the pond by the Mosquito Control Section of the Division of Fish and Wildlife. Their goal is to rid the area of those pesky saltmarsh mosquitoes that make our lives so miserable.

The Open Marsh Water Management program calls for the modification of shallow potholes in the marsh which hold water for up to 7- 10 days. These potholes serve as perfect breeding habitat for mosquitoes. The potholes will be deepened into ponds that connect to ditches that already hold saltmarsh fish. The fish will then feed on mosquito larvae that hatch in the deeper ponds. The deeper ponds also serve as excellent habitat for waterfowl, aquatic invertebrates and mammals. When the job is done, Gordons Pond will have a healthy marsh that produces fewer mosquitoes to plague our summer evenings.

In recent weeks, visitors to the beaches at Cape Henlopen might have caught sight of our youngest lifeguard recruits. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings through July, the Division of Parks and Recreation’s new “Junior Lifeguard Program” is training kids ages 9 to 15 in the various skills of water safety. The program, which promotes physical fitness, skills building, teamwork and positive self-esteem, has been wildly successful, with a capacity enrollment of 75 participants. If you happen to be in the area, cheer these kids on. If all goes well, these Junior Lifeguards will be staffing our beaches in the years to come!

In honor of these lifeguards of tomorrow, here are a few Beach Safety Tips:

• Always swim in supervised areas.

• Never swim alone…use the buddy system.

• Check with the lifeguards on surf conditions before swimming.

• Never overestimate your swimming ability, especially in cold water.

• Judge your ability to participate in beach activities based on your swimming skills alone, not with the assistance of rafts or other flotation devices.

• Never dive into shallow or unknown waters.

• Never swim while intoxicated. Alcohol impairs judgment and unnecessary risks are taken.

• If caught in a rip current, relax and swim toward shore at a 45-degree angle until you are free of the current. If the current is too strong, swim parallel with the shoreline in the same direction as the lateral current is flowing, then swim diagonally toward the shore. If you are not able to swim out of the rip currents, call or wave for help.

• When body surfing, do not ride waves in a straight line toward the shore. Instead, surf at an angle to the waves. Avoid white water in the wave center to avoid going “over the falls.”

• Follow the directions of the lifeguards…they are there for your health and safety!

Summer is when we all like to “cut loose” and have a good time. By following sensible rules, exercising good common sense-and using sunscreen-it can be a happy and healthy time for everyone. For more information about park rules and regulations, programs and activities, check out the state parks website at www.destateparks.com. And if you have any questions or suggestions for future topics, please e-mail me at stephen.schilly@state.de.us. Or look for me at the beach!