Monday, Sept. 8: Milford Region Paddling Meeting

Join us in Milford, DE on Monday, Sept. 8 for a workshop to discuss paddling opportunities along the Delaware Bayshore Byway

Overview: The Delaware Bayshore Byway through Delaware Greenways and DelDOT is working with Whitman Requardt & Associates LLP (WRA) and Conservation Community Consulting (CCC) to design safe, well-defined paddling opportunities for locals and visitors to enjoy the bayshore waterways. Our goal is to create a user-friendly online resource for safe paddling along the bayshore.

Our model for paddling the DE Bayshore is www.PaddleCoastalDelaware.com. This online resource features seven paddling zones from Milton/Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge to Fenwick Island/Little Assawoman Bay. Each zone features recommended water trails, with information for each about fees & parking, weather & tides, and attractions & amenities in nearby trail towns. Our process includes:

  • Inventory and assessment of existing boat ramps and kayak launches along the bayshore
  • Talking to communities about viability and opportunities
  • Development of up to 20 paddling trails along the bayshore

Our first community meeting will be in Milford, DE on Monday, Sept. 8, from 10:15 am – 4:30 pm. Here is our schedule:

  • 10:15 – 11:30 am: Meet at the Milford Public Library, located at 11 S E Front St, Milford, DE 19963, for a discussion about paddling opportunities in the Milford region. Coffee will be available from Dolcé.
  • 11:30 – 12:30 pm: Lunch from Arena’s Deli will be served at the library
  • 12:30 – 4:30 pm: Visit paddling sites in the Milford region for brief on-site assessments of launch sites, potential paddling trails, local amenities and points of interest. Weare working on van transportation for the group. Sites include:
    • Killens Pond State Park
    • Abbott’s Mill Nature Center and the Milford Millponds
    • Launch sites and points of interest along the Mispillion River from Milford to Slaughter Beach, including the DuPont Nature Center and Cedar Creek
  • 4:30 pm. Return to the Milford Library. For those available to stay a bit longer, we will host a short paddling excursion in Milford from the kayak launch at Arena’s to Goat Island and back. We may be able to arrange for a few kayaks to be delivered for those who can’t bring their own. Some of us will stay for a beer at Arena’s after the paddle.

To be successful, we need your help! With your input, we will develop paddling experiences that will showcase the unique natural, historical and cultural resources of Milford and Delaware’s Bayshore region while supporting economic development in local communities.

Google Map of sites to be visited from 12:30 – 4:30 pm

For questions and to RSVP, please contact:

Jim Rapp, Conservation Community Consulting
jmrpp2@gmail.com
443-614-0261