The Ryves Holt House in Lewes (Photo: WBOC)LEWES, Del.- There are more then 45 national parks in Maryland and Virginia combined, but Delaware is lagging behind without a single national park within its borders.
If approved by Congress, there would be national park sites in each of Delaware's three counties.
Mike DiPaolo with the Lewes Historical Society said making the Ryves Holt House in Lewes a national park site would boost Lewes and the surrounding community.
"Having that kind of significance given to Lewes by the National Park Service, and being able to reach those people planning their vacations, really would add a lot to our community," he said.
But not everyone is as confident as DiPaolo.
"I don't think that we are really worthy of a national park," Sue Eberhart said.
The proposed National Park System in Delaware would be composed of seven sites around the state. They would include:
- The Old Sheriff's House
- Fort Christina
- Old Swedes Church
- Old New Castle Courthouse
- John Dickinson Plantation
- Dover Green
- Ryves Holt House
"Here at the mouth of the bay, you can't tell Delaware's story without talking about Lewes, so this is a really natural anchor for a concept like that," DiPaolo said.
For the proposed sites to become a National Park site, Delaware's congressional delegation will have to re-introduce legislation.
