DNREC News

Vol. 31, No. 41
Feb. 9, 2001

For more information, contact state parks revenue administrator Mary M. Voshell at 302-739-4702.

Think Spring: Buy Your Annual Delaware State Park Pass Now

Though there are more cold and dreary days ahead - until mid-March as usual, according to Punxatauney Phil, the furry weather prognosticator - warm weather is definitely on the way. One of the best ways to get prepared is to purchase a Delaware State Parks annual pass. That way you won't miss a single day of fun.

Annual permits are now on sale at state parks, the Division of Parks and Recreation's administrative offices in Dover and at 16 consignment agents throughout the state.

For just $20 per Delaware-registered vehicle, pass holders will have unlimited visits to 14 parks statewide for 22 weeks. Throw in free parking and clean restrooms and that's a recreation bargain not duplicated anywhere else.

Delaware State Parks, always popular summertime getaways, are now filling up with visitors earlier in the season and winding down later.

More attendance in the "shoulder season" - trade talk for the weeks on either side of the traditional Memorial Day to Labor Day tourist season - is "really terrific," said Division Director Charles A. Salkin. "People are discovering that some of the best days in the parks are in spring and fall."

To cover the increasing costs for operations, maintenance and services that this boost in numbers is generating, the parks will begin collecting daily entrance fees seven days a week from May 1 through Sept. 30 and weekends and holidays in October. Previously fees were charged from Memorial Day through Labor Day and on weekends only in May, September and October.

"This makes our annual pass an even better deal," Salkin said.

Parks with the greatest usage will have fee collectors during the new times; others will have a self-registration honor system as long as the gates are open. Restrooms will be open beginning May. 1.

Entrance fees, which have not changed since 1992, are:

$2.50 daily entrance for Delaware vehicles
$5 daily entrance for out-of-state vehicle
$20 annual permit for Delaware vehicles
$40 annual permit for out-of-state vehicle
half-price annual permits for senior citizens
$10 for vehicles that carry 16-30 passengers; $20 for vehicles that carry over 30 passengers
School groups in a school bus or designated vehicle can receive free entrance from September to June

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