Senator Thomas Carper realized the most significant achievement in his long congressional career on Saturday night: when the Cromnibus Bill passed, the long sought after Delaware National Park was finally established. For years, Delaware was saddled with the indignity of being the only state in the union not to have a national park. This was the most important and damaging problem facing Delaware for decades, second only to the lack of bipartisanship, so of course our brave and tireless Senator fought to solve the problem.
U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., who has steadfastly sought a park designation for Delaware, released a statement after the vote on Friday. “Now, Delaware can have a national park that preserves and teaches the lessons of our state”s heritage casino online and our country”s history,” he said.
U.S. Rep. John Carney, D-Del., called the historical park a “tremendous achievement,” in a written statement, saying “I look forward to taking my family and visitors from out of state to visit the natural and historic sites in our park.”
Now, I don”t know about you, but when I think of a “national park,” I think of a contiguous natural place that we have preserved in its wild state. I also think of a park. Examples of what I am talking about are the National Parks of Yellowstone, Acadia, and whole host of other physical parks.
What Delaware has is a collection of national monuments and historical landmarks, placed throughout the state. Our national “park” is as follows:
New Castle County, DE / Delaware County, PA:
· Woodlawn Trustees PropertyNew Castle County, DE:
· The Old Sheriff’s House
· Old New Castle Courthouse
· New Castle Green
· Old Swedes Church National Historic Landmark
· Fort Christina National Historic LandmarkKent County, DE:
· Dover Green
· John Dickinson Plantation National Historic LandmarkSussex County, DE:
· Ryves Holt House
That is not a park. It is the First State or Delaware National Collection of Historic Landmarks. To call it a “park” is ridiculous, and speaks to an inferiority complex because, you know, Delaware can get along quite fine without pretending we have a national park.