NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

February 27, 2008

Vol. 38 , No. 78

Contacts: Clyde Shipman, Manager of Parks Operations and Maintenance, 302-739-9220; Beth Shockley, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Reminder: Entrance Fees to State Parks Take Effect March 1, 2008

Visitors to Delaware’s State Parks will be charged entrance fees beginning March 1, 2008. Previously, the fee season ran from May 1 to Oct. 30. The fee season has expanded and fees are now charged from March 1 to Nov. 30.

DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation announced the expansion of the fee season in January, citing the need to generate additional revenue to help cover increasing park operating costs.

Clyde Shipman, the manager of Parks Operations and Maintenance, also noted that, “The weather in March, April and November has typically been warmer, increasing attendance during these months and thereby increasing the need to provide more services in the parks at times when we have no revenue coming in.”

Parks officials estimate the change will generate up to an additional $150,000 toward park operating costs. The cost of annual park passes and surf fishing tags will be unaffected by the change, and the current entrance fees also will remain the same.

“This change actually makes our annual park entrance passes an even better value for our frequent visitors. Owners of Delaware-registered vehicles can pay just $27 for an annual pass and seniors age 62 and older pay just $12,” Shipman added.

Parks affected by the change are: Alapocas Run, Bellevue, Brandywine Creek, Cape Henlopen, Beach Plum Island Nature Preserve, Delaware Seashore, Fenwick Island, Fort DuPont, Fox Point, Holts Landing, Killens Pond, Lums Pond, Trap Pond, White Clay Creek and Wilmington state parks.

Daily park entrance fees for vehicles registered in Delaware are $3 at inland parks and $4 at ocean parks. Fees for out-of-state vehicles are $6 at inland parks and $8 at ocean parks. If a park attendant is not on duty, visitors should deposit the daily fee in the self-registration envelopes provided and place them in the designated drop boxes.

For more information, please call 302-739-9220 or visit www.destateparks.com. Annual park passes are available for purchase online at www.destateparks.com/know/index.asp , at all park field offices and at DNREC’s main office in the Richardson & Robbins building at 89 Kings Highway in Dover. 

-30-