Watch CBS News

Donated Parkland Could Eventually Become Delaware's First National Park

By Pat Loeb

NEW CASTLE, Del. (CBS) -- Delaware is the only state in the union without a national park, but local advocates are hoping to change that.  And they are seeing new momentum for their effort.

The campaign for a national park in Delaware is at least a decade old, but Blaine Phillips, mid-Atlantic director for the Conservation Fund, says the recent addition of the 1,100-acre "Woodlawn" property to the land available for such a park could be a gamechanger.

"It is an unbelievable scenic resource, natural resource, and historic resource," he tells KYW Newsradio.  "You just don't get 1,000-acre properties in pristine condition along the Brandywine," he says.

The Conservation Fund acquired the property from the Woodlawn Trust with a large grant from the Mt. Cuba Center, and is offering it for free to the National Park Service.

A bill now in Congress would allow the transfer.

"It's really a great opportunity for Delaware, for our region," says Phillips, "and I think the stars have finally lined up to do it."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.