NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

Dec. 23, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 564

For more information contact Kimberly Cole, Reserve Manager, Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, 302-739-3436 or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

     "Thank You Delaware Bay"
Helps Explore the Bay in Winter
Web Site Showcases Scenic Trails at State Parks
 
Winter is the perfect time to experience the Delaware Bay’s unique and surprising amenities – minus all the crowds. The ‘Thank You Delaware Bay’ web site, www.tydb.org, makes it easy to explore the bay by featuring close-to-home winter destinations for the entire family.

“Exploring the Delaware Bay is not just for the summer,” said Kimberly Cole, Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve. “The ‘Thank You Delaware Bay’ web site showcases the bay’s many natural places to discover and enjoy – including pedestrian trails with outstanding vantage points of the Delaware River or Bay. The trails are ideal for walking, jogging and bicycling and provide the perfect remedy for the winter blues.”

Three Delaware State Parks offer pedestrian trails that run alongside the Delaware River or Bay – natural and scenic refuges from the traffic and noise of nearby highways. The trails travel through a vital statewide greenway that helps preserve the diversity of plants, animals and habitats unique to our state.

At Fox Point State Park, north of Wilmington, bicycle and pedestrian trails offer spectacular views of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the skyline of Philadelphia, and the thousands of tugboats and tankers which use the shipping channel each year. Enjoy a leisurely stroll and view the interpretive displays that describe the various watercraft that ply the river. Fort Dupont State Park, just south of Delaware City off Route 9, features 322 acres along the Delaware River and C & D Canal. A self-guided trail provides joggers and outdoor enthusiasts with plenty of space to explore the park’s rich history. Cape Henlopen State Park near Lewes offers several vantage points for taking in outstanding views of the Delaware Bay. Hike the 0.6 mile Seaside Nature Trail or stroll the 1,800-foot-long Cape Henlopen fishing pier that stretches into the Delaware Bay. Leave your car at The Point parking lot for a beachcombing experience along the bay.

For more information on the pedestrian trails and other winter destinations, visit www.tydb.org.

The "Thank You Delaware Bay" web site was designed to showcase the beauty and amenities of the bay and encourage actions to help protect its health and resources.  Developed by program partners, DNREC’s Division of Soil and Water Conservation, Delaware Coastal Programs, The Nature Conservancy and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, the web site challenges citizens to learn more, get involved, be heard, and take steps to help protect the bay.

The site makes it easier for citizens to be good environmental stewards by providing information on everyday actions people can take that will help protect the bay from pollution. Links to organizations committed to safeguarding and protecting the bay are also provided, so citizens can get involved and join an organization, volunteer for a bay program, and report pollution impacts and threats to bay animals and marine life.

The web site also serves as a place to "Be Heard" by including a page where citizens can learn more about policy work and pending legislations at the local, state and federal level that affect the bay. State and federal links are included to encourage public input and comment.

 For more information on "Thank You Delaware Bay," visit www.tydb.org or contact Kim Cole at 302-739-3436.