Silver Lake & Killens Pond State Park
Dover's beautiful Silver Lake is the core of a 182-acre recreation area in the heart of the city. Biking, swimming, and picnicking draw most people, but the park also has a boat ramp, exercise circuit, volleyball court, and walking/jogging trail. The park has entrances on Washington Street and Kings Highway; it's open year-round from sunrise to sunset. Contact the Dover Parks and Recreation Department (tel. 302/736-7050; www.cityofdover.com/departments/parks) for additional information.
Some 13 miles south of Dover, about a half-mile east of Route 13, is Killens Pond State Park, 5025 Killens Pond Rd., Felton (tel. 302/284-4526; www.destateparks.com). Covering 1,444 acres, with a 66-acre millpond, Killens Pond is a natural inland haven with picnic areas, shuffleboard courts, horseshoe pits, biking and hiking trails, volleyball courts, boat rentals, pond fishing, and camping, The Killens Pond Water Park has lap lanes, a mushroom fountain, and a lily-pad fun walk. Park entry fees daily May through October are $3 for Delaware-registered cars and $6 for out-of-state vehicles. Water-park admission is an additional $2 for adults and $1 for children under 16. The park is open year-round; the water park is open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Also at the park are 77 campsites, with 10 cabins, 17 tent-only sites, and 1 pond-view cottage, open year-round. Reservations are taken up to 7 months in advance; call tel. 877/987-2757. Fees are $19 to $29 for tent sites and $28 to $32 for sites with water and electric hookup. Note: NASCAR fans fill the campsites quickly on race weekends in April and September. Be sure to reserve 7 months in advance.
