Contact: Matthew Chesser, Planning Preservation and Development, phone: (302) 739-9231
or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, phone: (302) 739-9902

Junction and Breakwater Trail Extension Opens at Cape Henlopen State Park

June 4, 2007 – Today, the much-anticipated extension to the Junction and Breakwater Trail at Cape Henlopen State Park was officially opened. The announcement was made by DNREC Secretary John A. Hughes, former Delaware legislator Roger Roy, DelDOT Assistant Planning Director Theodore Bishop, DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation Director Charles A. Salkin, and Paul Townsend, representing LT Associates. The trail was a cooperative effort among DNREC, DelDot, local officials, landowners and developers, and the Delaware General Assembly.

The new trail extension connects the northern end of the Junction and Breakwater Trail with Kings Highway in Lewes. The addition of this 2.4-mile corridor extends the existing Junction and Breakwater Trail to a total of 6 miles.

“The vision of a pedestrian link between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach has been around since the 1970s,” said John A. Hughes, DNREC Secretary. “With this trail extension, the final connection is made - creating a greenway that spans from Rehoboth Beach in the south to Lewes in the north. The trail now links the two communities and increases public access to the beauty and amenities of Cape Henlopen State Park.”

The trail extension serves both recreation and transportation – the multi-use path is ideal for hiking, biking and bird-watching and serves as a pleasant alternative for bicycle and pedestrian travel between the two resort towns. The trail offers a natural and scenic refuge from the traffic and noise of nearby highways and travels through a vital greenway that helps preserve the diversity of plants, animals and habitats unique to the state.

“DelDOT is extremely proud to be part of the completion of the Junction and Breakwater Trail. The trail is a fantastic example of a multi-use pedestrian and bicycle facility. With the completion of the trail, the vital link between Lewes and Rehoboth is complete. Residents and visitors to the beach region will now be able to enjoy the safety and beauty of the trail for many years,” said Theodore Bishop, DelDOT Assistant Planning Director.

The Junction and Breakwater Trail gets its name from the rail line that ran between Lewes and Rehoboth in the mid-1800s. The existing trail follows along the historic rail corridor through wooded and open terrain and provides scenic vistas of coastal marshes at the Wolfe Glade and Holland Glade bridge crossings – two recognized natural areas. The trail was first open in December 2003 after acquiring parcels and easements from private landowners.

According to Charles A. Salkin, DNREC’s Director of the Division of Parks and Recreation, in the mid-1990s the division began to actively pursue preservation of open space west of Cape Henlopen State Park between the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal and Route 1. “From 1998 - 2000, the division successfully completed eight acquisitions totaling 1,396 acres at a cost of just over $20 million,” said Salkin. “The lands acquired proved to be a wise investment, increasing in value at least ten-fold in that short period of time. More important than the fair market value is the critical role of these lands in preserving historic landscapes and parkland, buffering the lands along the canal and providing the greenway corridor for this important trail project.”

The northern trailhead of the Junction and Breakwater Trail is located at the historic Wolfe house and includes a 56-car parking lot, restrooms, information center, bike rack, and new landscaping. Two bridges provide vantage points for taking in outstanding views of coastal wetlands or a World War II observation tower located on the coast.

The trail can be accessed east of Route 1 by taking Munchy Branch Road to Wolfe Neck Road or from a trailhead off of the Holland Glade Road located behind the Tanger Outlets shopping area. The trail consists of finely crushed stone with an average width of 12 feet. The surface is also suited for wheel-
chairs; motorized vehicles and horses are not permitted.

For more information on programs of DNREC’s planning and preservation section, contact Matthew P. Chesser, environmental program administrator at 302-739-9231.

Delaware's Greenway and Trail Program is a statewide initiative to preserve and protect corridors of open space, and where appropriate, enhance these areas with trails and paved pathways. For more information on Delaware programs, visit DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation website, www.destateparks.com/greenway or contact Susan Moerschel, greenways program manager, at 302-739-9235.
 

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