LEWES, Del. -- On September 21, Governor John Carney signed Senate Bill 6 into law, updating and strengthening protections for Cape Henlopen State Park.
The law is a long awaited victory for Preserve Our Park, a coalition of citizens and conservationists who seek to preserve Cape Henlopen State Park. Beginning last fall, the group led the fight against DNREC's approval for a 6,000 sq. ft. restaurant and bar to be built in the park.
"What we're doing is making sure that development stops at the entrance to Cape Henlopen State," says coalition member Sally Boswell. "The more our area sort of changes, the more precious this spot is."
The bill re-affirms the General Assembly’s commitment to a 350-year-old obligation known as the ‘Warner Grant,’ to protect the lands encompassed by Cape Henlopen State Park today and for future generations of Delawareans.
"This is an exceptional place, that should stay exceptional, and it doesn't need any improvement," says Bosewell.
The legislation comes after a public meeting held by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) at Cape Henlopen High School on December 5, 2022. Nearly 1,000 citizens came to hear DNREC’s plans for Cape Henlopen State Park, including their proposal to build a bar/restaurant on the dune next to the Hawk Watch in the park.
Following the meeting, director of the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation Ray Bivens announced that the project would be placed on a "pause", however, he now says that it is no longer advancing.
"The Warner Land Grant is one of the most special things about our state, so I have the utmost respect for it," says Bivens. "We heard from the community loud and clear that they are not interested in improved food service at Cape Henlopen."
