A proposal to build 11 upscale rental cottages in Cape Henlopen State Park has drawn criticism from the Preserve Our Park Coalition, which convened on November 25 at the Primitive Youth Camp to oppose the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) plan.
The coalition argued that the development could harm wildlife and undermine a proposed dark skies lighting initiative intended to preserve the park’s natural environment. “This is a beloved place,” said coalition member Elaine Simmerman. “What is coming next? You know, once you plant your flag in the ground.”
The project was initially announced in 2022, funded by a $3.2 million federal grant under the American Rescue Plan Act. DNREC also indicated that 90% of the development phase is expected to be completed by next summer.
DNREC presented its plans, detailing the proposed cottages alongside an expansion and upgrade of the existing campground. The agency also revealed renderings for repurposing a historic ammunition storage bunker into overnight accommodations.
According to DNREC, the proposed cottages would feature modern amenities such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry facilities, and indoor-outdoor living spaces. The agency plans to rent the units at rates comparable to short-term rentals in Rehoboth Beach and has emphasized efforts to minimize the environmental impact by situating the cottages in a secluded area of the park.
Opponents of the project pointed to the 1979 Warner Grant Land Trust, which outlines the park’s mission as focusing on recreation, conservation, and education. “The park is not huge. It’s really a small park, so every bit of development chips away at what the park is supposed to do. We just feel it’s worth protecting,” Sally Boswell, a coalition member, said, as reported by Cape Gazette on November 27.
State Representative Claire Snyder-Hall, D-Rehoboth Beach, joined the coalition on November 25 to tour the site and raised concerns about the project’s compliance with Senate Bill 6.
The legislation, enacted earlier this year, restricts DNREC from adding hospitality facilities such as hotels or restaurants within the park. “The construction of 11 upscale rental houses in the park, the functional equivalent of a hotel or hostelry, clearly violates the spirit of the law,” Snyder-Hall said.
The group has also opposed other projects, including the demolition of the McBride bathhouse and the construction of a two-story replacement facility nearby.
