Contact: Ron Vickers, Planning, Preservation and Development, phone: (302) 739-5285
or Rusty Harvey, Delaware Wild Lands, Inc., phone: (302) 378-2736.

Division of Parks and Recreation, Delaware Wild Lands Protect Port Penn Property From Development

Over five acres of open field and marsh in Port Penn have been protected from development by a partnership of the state Division of Parks and Recreation and Delaware Wild Lands, Inc.

The Division has acquired 2.8 acres of upland across Port Penn Road from its Port Penn Interpretive Center. The southern wetlands portion (2.3 acres) was bought by Delaware Wild Lands. Both parcels are adjacent to the conservation organization’s Moore Farm, on which the Division holds a conservation easement. The $100,000 purchase price came from the Delaware Land and Water Conservation Trust Fund.

The property was purchased from Dr. and Mrs. Jason Campbell, who now live in New Castle. The Division, which has had an agreement with the Campbells since 1993 to mow the open field in exchange for being able to use it for special events, will work with the community on passive recreation options for its land. It will also be used for overflow parking for the Interpretive Center.

The site was the location of the Port Penn Cannery from the late 19th century until 1954. Dr. Campbell, the last owner and operator, purchased the tomato packing business in 1946 and he and his wife ran it for eight years. Today there is little evidence of the cannery, with the exception of a concrete pad that was the foundation of a storage building.
 

-30-

Click Here To Return To The Previous Page