Delaware Bill seeks to protect Cape Henlopen State Park from development

LEWES, Del.  – A new bill introduced by Delaware legislators hopes to protect Cape Henlopen state park from any future development, following an attempt last fall to approve a restaurant at the park.

The bill, introduced in the state senate, updates the language in the land grant that protects the park to make explicit reference to the kinds of development that would be barred.

Lawmakers say the bill was spurned by the overwhelming public backlash to the restaurant plans.

State Senator Russ Huxtable says the new language will make such attempts more clearly in violation of the charter that has governed the park for over 300 years.

“This is the expectations of this community this county and of this state that these are how these lands will be managed in perpetuity, the Department of Environmental Resources and Control may not build hospitality enmities such as a restaurant hotel, or entertainment center,” he said.

Senator Huxtable says they are far from anti-business but wanted to be sure to protect quote “environmentally safe spaces that draw in tourists and visitors.”