I am writing this letter to offer my support to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control proposal to raise entrance fees to the state parks they manage. There are several reasons I support this proposal, including the fact that the state has not raised entrance fees in 10 years and also that they are including provisions within this increase to provide discounts for affordable access for lower-income individuals who qualify.
One of my primary reasons for supporting the increases is because of what I learned about DNREC when I joined the Preserve Our Park Coalition, a group of concerned local citizens who mobilized hundreds in our community to oppose the building of a large restaurant complex on the dunes in Cape Henlopen State Park in 2022. We were successful in convincing DNREC and the restaurant group to discontinue that plan, but it shone a light upon what many of us consider a weakness in our state budgeting process for environmental concerns. DNREC is only funded 35% by the state budget, leaving the staff to make up 65% of their annual budget to run the state Departments of Air Quality; Waste and Hazardous Substances; Water Resources; Climate, Coastal and Energy; Fish and Wildlife; Parks and Recreation; and Watershed Stewardship. Parks and Recreation and Fish and Wildlife are the only departments that can charge fees to support the annual budget, so an unfair onus is put upon them to find ways to generate revenue. Most neighboring states fund their park systems at much higher percentages.
I am an ardent conservationist who finds great solace in the beautiful outdoor spaces we are blessed with at Cape Henlopen State Park. I know there are many like me, as nearly 2 million visitors were recorded there last year. I hope you will join me in supporting DNREC’s proposed fee increases and also contact our governor and state legislators to encourage them to support an increased budget for DNREC. Our quality of life depends on strong stewardship of our natural resources.
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