Delaware State Parks’ growing popularity set another attendance record in 2022 by surpassing the 8 million visitors mark.
While other state park systems saw declines in visitation in 2022, Delaware State Parks, under the administration of DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation, continue to experience strong growth. Visitor attendance at Delaware State Parks has increased each year since 2015 making this the eighth year in a row a new visitation record was set. In the past five years alone, Delaware State Parks visitation is up 37%.
Alapocas Run, Auburn Valley, Brandywine Zoo, Fort Delaware and Killens Pond state parks, and the First State Heritage Park within Delaware’s nationally recognized park system all saw visitation increase by more than 10% in 2022. The most visited state park in 2022 was Cape Henlopen with 1.9 million visitors, accounting for almost one in four of all park visits.
Cape Henlopen wsa the scene of a major controversy over plans for a restaurant with neighbors claiming the expansion woud harm the park. Both the winning bidder for the project and DNREC agreed to drop the proposal which would have upgraded restrooms and other facilities at the park.
“We are excited that the public is getting out to Delaware State Parks more than ever and discovering the many attractions and offerings the parks provide through our Division of Parks and Recreation,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “Not only is attendance up, but I am extremely proud of the high marks our division staff receive for customer service, thanks to their dedicated efforts.
“We also are aware that such voluminous visitation year-to-year calls for more staff working both at the parks and in administration – and there currently is a range of job openings we look to fill as DNREC and the Division of Parks and Recreation work to meet demands from the rising growth in visits made to Delaware State Parks,” Garvin sad.i
DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation programs, volunteer hours and amenities all saw increases in 2022 compared with 2021. These included a 28% increase in school program participants, a 23% increase in volunteer hours, a 12% increase in visitors to Deerfield and Garrisons Lake golf courses with nearly 60,000 rounds of golf played, 40,000 visitors for events in 2022, and a 10% increase in visitors to the Killens Pond Water Park.
In light of the parks’ growth, the Division of Parks and Recreation advises that all parties who plan to camp or host events in Delaware State Parks are encouraged to make reservations as early as possible, as these spaces book faster than pre-Covid-19 visitation levels.
Delaware State Parks annual passes and surf fishing permits are on sale now and can be purchased at any state park office Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or online at www.destateparks.com/Know/PassesTagsFees. Applications for the permits have skyrocketed in recent years. accredited.
Job openings in administration, enforcement, interpretation, lifeguarding, maintenance, park leadership and more are available, and job postings can be found at www.jobapscloud.com/DE.
Delaware fares better than many states in recouping a portion of expenses through fees. However,
