LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Out and About in Delaware's State Parks |
by Steven Schilly |
Gordons Pond...Help is on the way! Delaware has the good fortune to have almost 25 miles of beautiful coastal beachesenough sand and rolling surf to attract millions of sun-worshipers every year. They are the state's leading tourist attraction. Many of you may be surprised to learn that 14 miles of those beaches are located within state parks! Largely protected from development, they provide an important alternative to the neighboring resort beaches for those looking for a place to relax and unwind, do a little beachcombing or just work on their tans (with plenty of sun block, please). Starting at Delaware's northernmost Atlantic Ocean beach near Lewes, you will find Cape Henlopen State Park, whose lifeguarded main swimming area attracts large crowds, and, closer to Rehoboth, its lesser known Gordons Pond area. Further south is Delaware Seashore State Park, where Towers Ocean and the South Inlet beaches are favorites. And bumping up against the Maryland line is beautiful Fenwick Island State Park. Each has its own character, so get to know them if you haven't already. Please keep in mind that our parks charge daily entrance fees from May 1 through October 31. Frequent visitors should consider purchasing an annual park pass. Delaware residents can get the annual pass for just $20. While out-of-staters have to pay $40, the convenient all-day parking alone is worth the price! As mentioned earlier, Gordons Pond was for many years one of the best kept secrets in the state park system. Located on the southern end of Cape Henlopen State Park, the only way to get to there is via Rehoboth Beach side streets. As a result, for years the beach was known mostly to local residents. Within the gay community, it became known as one of the few "gay" beaches in the resort area. Its popularity has grown quietly but steadily in the past five years and, in fact, is now recognized as one of the busiest beaches in the state park system. If Gordons Pond"North Shores" as it is frequently but incorrectly identifiedis your beach of choice, there is some bad news and some good news. The bad news is that the area is currently closed until Memorial Day weekend. The good news is that the closure is to allow a complete and long-overdue renovation of the parking lot! Many visitors have complained to the Division of Parks and Recreation in recent years about the poor condition of the facility. Years of rough coastal weather have gradually taken their toll on the pavement, ultimately causing it to fail. Stress from the large crowds who "discovered" the area only made matters worse. It took the Division several years to secure the necessary funds to move ahead with the repair project. I'm happy to report that help is on the way! The $650,000. project involves a complete redesign of the parking lot. The first phase includes demolition and recycling of the old pavement, construction of a new 500-space asphalt parking lot including a new entrance road, contact station, curbing, sidewalks, landscaping in bio-retention swales, foot-showers, and an air station for surf fishing vehicles. The new parking lot will allow visitors easier and safer access to the beach. An added bonus from the new design allows small sections of the lot to be available to visitors on a year-round basis. This will be especially appealing to winter visitors who have found the lot closed through the winter in recent years. The second phase calls for a picnic pavilion at the northern end of the parking lot. If all goes well, construction will be completed later this year. The Division is very excited about the renovations at Gordons Pond. We are confident visitors will be pleased with the end result. Of course, many people will be unhappy with the timing of the project. Now that warm weather is here, everyone is anxious to get out and enjoy the beach. Try to be patient, the improved parking lot is worth the waiting! In the meantime, we are encouraging visitors to use nearby park beaches such as Towers Ocean at Delaware Seashore. Finally, I want to thank everyone for the great response I received to my previous article in Letters. It was gratifying to know that many of you viewed the problem of "cruising" and sexual activity in park areas as a concern. I know the state parks enforcement staff appreciates your support for their efforts to control the problem. Our parks are wonderful resources with the welcome mat out to all visitors. But, as I said in my first column, "rules are rules"! For more information, visit the state parks website at www.destateparks.com. If you have any questions or suggestions for future topics, e-mail me at sschilly@state.de.us. Nature's Best Bets If you are looking for fun activities in April, several "best bets" at the Cape Henlopen Nature Center include: Spring Hawk Watch - Sundays in April 9 a.m. to noon Participate in an international effort to monitor and record migrating hawks, falcons and eagles. Experienced hawk watchers will be on hand to assist with identification and to answer questions. Alien Invaders - Sunday, April 14 1 p.m. Non-native plants and animals are one of the greatest threats to America's native flora and fauna. Join a park naturalist and learn how to identify some of the invasive species found at Cape Henlopen and learn what you can do to help stem the tide of "alien invaders". Explore the Salt Marsh - Sunday, April 28 1 p.m. On a 2-mile hike to an area seldom seen by park visitors, discover the wonders of the salt marsh ecosystem; learn how marshes form and the importance of this most productive habitat. For more information, call 302-645-6852.If you have any questions or suggestions for future topics, e-mail me at sschilly@state.de.us. Stephen Shilly is Park Operations Administra-tor, Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 12, No. 03, April 5, 2002. |