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Delaware is currently the only state without a unit in the National Park Service.  Last year, after nearly two years of research and planning that involved state officials, community leaders and activists, I unveiled a proposal to create the Delaware National Coastal Heritage Park.

This park would link various sites across the state that tell the story of Delaware’s coastal heritage, from the days of the area’s earliest inhabitants to the bustling financial, tourism and recreational area that Delaware has become.  Among the themes the park will highlight:  the history of indigenous peoples, colonization and establishment of the Frontier, the nation’s founding, industrial development, transportation, coastal defense, the Underground Railroad, and the coastal environment.   

The proposal calls on the National Park Service to construct a series of four interpretive centers, or hubs, that would help local residents and tourists learn more about how our coastline has contributed to the development of our state and nation.  The centers would provide information and guidance about the many existing historic sites, natural areas, recreational opportunities and other attractions that are part of our coastal region.

However, before a national park can be built in Delaware, the Park Service must first study the need for and feasibility of building and running such a park.  I’ve introduced legislation that would require the National Park Service to study the need for a national park in Delaware and report back to Congress with its findings. That bill passed the Senate unanimously in November, and is awaiting approval in the House.

The study would be done in cooperation with the state of Delaware, coastal communities and the general public.  After the study is completed, the Park Service would then recommend to Congress whether a national park in Delaware should be created, what it should look like and how much it would cost to construct.  Based on those recommendations, I would then seek additional legislation to authorize and fund the park itself.

Adobe Acrobat File Icon National Park Proposal
Adobe Acrobat File Icon Costal Heritage New Castle County
Adobe Acrobat File Icon Costal Heritage Kent County

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