Parks · Community parks
County and town parks, on the questions you ask before loading the car: toilets, playground, water, shade, and whether the dog can come. Not the seventeen state parks — those are here.
Because it's the thing that decides whether an outing works with a four-year-old or an older dog, and because virtually nobody publishes it. A yes/no isn't enough either — a permanent block, a portable unit, and a block that only opens after Memorial Day are three different answers, and the third one ruins an April trip.
Where this dataset stands
11 of 16 still read Not confirmed. That's the honest state of it — every one is onthe call list and none of them will say "yes" until someone has checked.
New Castle County · Newark
The county's flagship park. A large playground with adaptive swings and the fully fenced High5 adaptive sensory playground, shade sails and a shade pavilion, a skate bowl, a promenade, and the busiest public dog park in the state.
Has a dog park→
New Castle County · Wilmington
Meadows, ponds and a lake off Limestone Road, with miles of walking trails and an unusual playground built from cement teepees, canoes, horses and climbing rocks. Also has an equestrian centre and an off-leash dog area that local reviews rate highly.
Has a dog park→
New Castle County · Wilmington
A Gothic Revival mansion and its grounds, with gardens, lawns and walking paths. Hosts a farmers market. More formal than the county's other parks — this is a stroll rather than a hike.
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New Castle County · Wilmington
A large county park south-west of Wilmington with ponds, ball fields and picnic areas. Other guides list a dog park here; we have not been able to confirm it exists as described.
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New Castle County · Wilmington
The site of a 19th-century resort and later an amusement park, now woodland and playing fields with interpretive markers where the rides used to be. Volunteers run archaeology days.
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New Castle County · Newark
Woodland and trails on the highest ground in this part of the county, with a well-known disc golf course, a playground and a small fenced dog park.
Has a dog park→
New Castle County · Wilmington
A neighbourhood park sharing a site with the Brandywine Hundred library. Covered pavilions, mature shade, a playground and one of the better-kept dog parks in the county.
Has a dog park→
New Castle County · Wilmington
A small riverside park with a fenced dog park. A large shade tree in the big-dog area was removed, so shade is now limited.
Has a dog park→
Kent County · Camden
Eighty-six acres with the fullest facility list of any county park in Kent — sand volleyball, horseshoes, multiple trails, pavilions with grills, sports and multipurpose fields, a nature centre and a stage. Historic buildings on site.
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Kent County · Camden
Playground, open space and trails along Tidbury Creek, with a fenced dog park. The dog park is closed on Sundays, which is unusual and catches people out.
Has a dog park→
Kent County · Dover
A 1.5-mile nature trail, flat and easy, used mostly for walking and dog-walking. Nature preserve rather than a facilities park — come for the walk, not the amenities.
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Kent County · Smyrna
A Kent County park in the Smyrna area. Facilities not yet confirmed — this record exists so the gap is visible rather than hidden.
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Kent County · Greensboro Rd area
A Kent County park. Facilities not yet confirmed.
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Kent County · Dover
A Kent County landing on the St Jones River. Likely boat access rather than a facilities park, but unconfirmed.
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Kent County · Kent County
A Kent County park. Facilities not yet confirmed.
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City of Dover · Dover
Dover's main recreation park: three tennis courts, a softball field, a multipurpose field, two basketball courts, a disc golf course, two pavilions, picnic areas, walking paths, fishing and playgrounds. Also a three-section dog park with a full agility course.
Has a dog park→
There are no Sussex County community parks on this list because Sussex largely doesn't run them — the state parks and the wildlife areas do that job down there, and the towns keep small municipal greens rather than county facilities. If we're wrong about that,tell us; it's the kind of gap worth being wrong about publicly rather than quietly.