Picture of Alapocas Run State Park

Alapocas Run State Park


Notice of Hybrid Public Meeting

This meeting is regarding the Section 106 review, under the National Historic Preservation Act, and the development of a memorandum of agreement for the demolition and replacement of the Bancroft pedestrian bridge, located at Alapocas Run State Park in New Castle County, Wilmington, Delaware.

Seeking public comment

Wednesday, April 17th, 2024, 6:00 – 7:00 PM

Blue Ball Barn
1914 W Park Dr
Wilmington DE, 19803

Find Your Adventure at Alapocas Run State Park

Alapocas Woods offers a short but scenic trail at Alapocas Run State Park.

Explore Alapocas Woods

Enjoy a leisure 0.7-mile-long hike through mature woodlands in the middle of the city. Look for native pawpaw trees and take in the sights and sounds of nature.

The blue rock cliffs at Alapocas Run State Park.

Observe the Blue Granite Cliffs

The cliffs, made of blue rock gneiss, offer a glimpse into the park’s quarrying past. These rocks were once used to help build the city of Wilmington!

The Blue Ball Barn at Alpocas Run State Park is the home of the Delaware Folk Art Museum

Discover the Blue Ball Barn

Step back in time at the Blue Ball Barn. Learn about the rich history of the area while touring The Delaware Folk Art Collection.

 

The Northern Delaware Greenway runs through Alpocas Run State Park

Ride the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail

Hike or bike through the natural and cultural history of Wilmington! Stop at historic overlooks to learn about the textile mills that once thrived throughout the region.

The Can-Do Playground at Alapocas Run State Park

Have Fun at the Can-Do Playground

Kids of all abilities can go for a swing, or play in the sand at Delaware's first "boundless playground." You can also read a new story on the Storybook Trail.

Rock-climbing at Alapocas Run State Park

Superintendent’s Pick: Climb the Rock Wall

Climb Delaware’s only natural rock climbing wall! Our staff offer top-rope climbing programs — with some basic tips and equipment, rock climbing can be a unique way to experience the park.

About the Park

Around Delaware’s beautiful Blue Rock cliff, formerly quarried and now home to the state’s only natural rock-climbing wall, natural resources like mature woodlands and the Brandywine River meet a rich industrial and cultural history at Alapocas Run State Park. The Blue Ball Barn, now a popular event space named for the Blue Ball Tavern that once served travelers in the area, was built in the 1900s as a dairy barn that supported A.I. DuPont’s Nemours estate. It now houses the Delaware Folk Art Collection and tells the park’s history in story form. Pawpaw trees, North America’s largest native fruit-bearing tree, grows in the forest understory. Delaware’s only venomous snake, the non-aggressive Northern Copperhead, occurs here. A Storybook Trail winds around the Can-do Playground, designed to be accessible to every child. Alapocas Run is also home to the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail, a National Recreation Trail.

Park History

The land that became Alapocas Run State Park was donated to the city of Wilmington in the early 1900s by local industrialist William Bancroft. It eventually came to include the Blue Ball Barn, built in 1914 by Bancroft's neighbor, Alfred I. DuPont, who named the barn after an inn and meeting house that was once located near the property. Alapocas Run became a state park in 2002.

Blue Ball Barn

This extraordinary barn, progressive in its environmental design, is the current home of the Delaware Folk Art Collection. Renovations have created a multifunctional conference, special event and gallery space for events, weddings and conferences, featuring meeting rooms, a large banquet room and a secluded courtyard. The Blue Ball Barn was the first public building in Delaware to become a LEED-certified building, meaning it meets stringent environmentally-friendly building design standards.

Learn more about the Blue Ball Barn, including how to host your event here.

Virtual Tour

Bancroft Bridge Update

After historic floods from the remnants of Hurricane Ida during the last week of August in 2021, the Bancroft Bridge was struct with high flood water and heavy debris causing severe damage. The Division closed the bridge and performed structural analysis to determine the impact of the damage. The Division has a written report and recorded a presentation of the findings and alternative solutions evaluated to fix or replace the bridge.

View the video presentation from the March 28, 2023 meeting.

View the video presentation from the October 27, 2022 meeting.

View the video presentation from the February 10, 2022 meeting.

Available are also the follwoing presentations:

Construction to remove the damaged Bancroft Bridge and replace it will begin Oct. 1 and is expected to be complete in April 2025. A-Del Construction of Newark has been awarded DNREC awarded a $2.6 million contract to A-Del Construction of Newark for the replacement of the Bancroft Bridge.

Questions related to construction activities can be addressed to the division’s Chief of Construction Shawn Heacock at shawn.heacock@delaware.gov or 302-739-9399.

The Delaware Folk Art Collection

The collection currently contains over 120 works from Delaware artists, reflecting the diverse cultural backgrounds that make up the First State. Visitors are able to tour the exhibits in person at the Barn or take a virtual tour. The Blue Ball Barn is a Frommer’s recommended attraction.

Can-Do Playground

can do playground

The 27,000 square foot Can-Do Playground, is the first Boundless Playground™ in Delaware. Designed to be accessible to every child, regardless of physical, mental and sensory abilities, the playground was made possible with the help of six Wilmington-area Rotary Clubs. For more information about boundless playgrounds, visit the Can-Do Playground website.

Athletic Fields

Is your club, league, or group looking for a well-maintained area for games or other activities? Three versatile fields in the East Park section of Alapocas Run State Park offer a variety of opportunities for organized sports.

Sports Accommodated:

Fields 1 and 2: Soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, flag football, Ultimate Frisbee®, kickball

Field 3: Field hockey, flag football, Ultimate Frisbee®, rugby, youth soccer, youth lacrosse

The athletic field permit application available under Maps + Downloads on this page contains field reservation information and rates.

Rock Climbing and Rappelling

Alapocas Run State Park offers top-rope climbing and rappelling. In top roping, the rope is run from the climber through an anchor at the top of the climb, then back down to attach to the belayer. The belayer is able to stop a falling climber immediately, which makes top-rope climbing one of the safest forms of climbing. Rappelling is a controlled descent on a rope from an anchor on the top of a rock or cliff face. Like top-rope climbing, rappelling requires a mechanical device that can lock the rope, preventing an uncontrolled descent. The park offers climbing programs and camps.

More info can be found on our Rock Climbing page

A climbing permit is required to use the park’s rock wall; the application is available on this page under Maps + Downloads.

Upcoming Events

Introduction to Rock Climbing

Saturday, September 21, 2024

9:30 AM

Discover the basics of outdoor top rope climbing. Get harnessed up and climb on our natural rock wall, after a brief introduction of equipment, climbing and safety. Helmets, harness and ropes provided. Park staff will instruct, guide and belay all climbers. Ages 8 and up. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. Pre-registration with full payment required by noon Friday, the day before the program date. Register online; call 302-577-7020 with any questions. $30 per person

Register Online

Add to Calendar 9/21/2024 9:30:00 AM 9/21/2024 11:30:00 AM America/New_York Introduction to Rock Climbing Discover the basics of outdoor top rope climbing. Get harnessed up and climb on our natural rock wall, after a brief introduction of equipment, climbing and safety. Helmets, harness and ropes provided. Park staff will instruct, guide and belay all climbers. Ages 8 and up. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. Pre-registration with full payment required by noon Friday, the day before the program date. Register online; call 302-577-7020 with any questions. $30 per person Alapocas Run

Art in Action: Watercolor and Collage - CANCELLED

Saturday, September 21, 2024

1:00 PM

This program has been cancelled. Please check out the other great programs we have available.

Register Online

Add to Calendar 9/21/2024 1:00:00 PM 9/21/2024 3:00:00 PM America/New_York Art in Action: Watercolor and Collage - CANCELLED This program has been cancelled. Please check out the other great programs we have available. Alapocas Run

Introduction to Rock Climbing

Saturday, October 5, 2024

9:30 AM

Discover the basics of outdoor top rope climbing. Get harnessed up and climb on our natural rock wall, after a brief introduction of equipment, climbing and safety. Helmets, harness and ropes provided. Park staff will instruct, guide and belay all climbers. Ages 8 and up. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. Pre-registration with full payment required by noon Friday, the day before the program date. Register online; call 302-577-7020 with any questions. $30 per person

Register Online

Add to Calendar 10/5/2024 9:30:00 AM 10/5/2024 11:30:00 AM America/New_York Introduction to Rock Climbing Discover the basics of outdoor top rope climbing. Get harnessed up and climb on our natural rock wall, after a brief introduction of equipment, climbing and safety. Helmets, harness and ropes provided. Park staff will instruct, guide and belay all climbers. Ages 8 and up. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. Pre-registration with full payment required by noon Friday, the day before the program date. Register online; call 302-577-7020 with any questions. $30 per person Alapocas Run

Connecting with Nature Hike

Saturday, October 12, 2024

10:00 AM

Join us on a hike through Alapocas Woods to explore texture and how important it is in both nature and art. We'll be starting our hike at the Blue Ball Barn's Folk Art Gallery and then head out into the forest to make some observations and complete a simple art project. You will see how using natural textures, colors and patterns in art can connect people to each other and nature. Call the park office for more information or to register 302.577.7020. FREE

Add to Calendar 10/12/2024 10:00:00 AM 10/12/2024 12:00:00 PM America/New_York Connecting with Nature Hike Join us on a hike through Alapocas Woods to explore texture and how important it is in both nature and art. We'll be starting our hike at the Blue Ball Barn's Folk Art Gallery and then head out into the forest to make some observations and complete a simple art project. You will see how using natural textures, colors and patterns in art can connect people to each other and nature. Call the park office for more information or to register 302.577.7020. FREE Alapocas Run

Act in Action : Spoon Carving

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

6:00 PM

Carve a serving spoon from a basswood blank with just two knives. Participants will learn to read grain direction and work from flat to rounded shapes. Spoon carving doesn’t require benches, vises, or expensive equipment to get started. Knives, blanks, and gloves will be provided. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made less that 48 hour before class time. Register online.

Register Online

Add to Calendar 10/16/2024 6:00:00 PM 10/16/2024 8:00:00 PM America/New_York Act in Action : Spoon Carving Carve a serving spoon from a basswood blank with just two knives. Participants will learn to read grain direction and work from flat to rounded shapes. Spoon carving doesn’t require benches, vises, or expensive equipment to get started. Knives, blanks, and gloves will be provided. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made less that 48 hour before class time. Register online. Alapocas Run

Twilight Hike

Friday, October 18, 2024

6:30 PM

Join us for this family friendly hike as we tread carefully into the twilight. Discover how animals use their senses at night in Alapocas Woods. Pre-registration by noon, October 17 at 302.577.7020 FREE

Add to Calendar 10/18/2024 6:30:00 PM 10/18/2024 8:00:00 PM America/New_York Twilight Hike Join us for this family friendly hike as we tread carefully into the twilight. Discover how animals use their senses at night in Alapocas Woods. Pre-registration by noon, October 17 at 302.577.7020 FREE Alapocas Run

Introduction to Rock Climbing

Saturday, October 19, 2024

9:30 AM

Discover the basics of outdoor top rope climbing. Get harnessed up and climb on our natural rock wall, after a brief introduction of equipment, climbing and safety. Helmets, harness and ropes provided. Park staff will instruct, guide and belay all climbers. Ages 8 and up. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. Pre-registration with full payment required by noon Friday, the day before the program date. Register online; call 302-577-7020 with any questions. $30 per person

Register Online

Add to Calendar 10/19/2024 9:30:00 AM 10/19/2024 11:30:00 AM America/New_York Introduction to Rock Climbing Discover the basics of outdoor top rope climbing. Get harnessed up and climb on our natural rock wall, after a brief introduction of equipment, climbing and safety. Helmets, harness and ropes provided. Park staff will instruct, guide and belay all climbers. Ages 8 and up. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. Pre-registration with full payment required by noon Friday, the day before the program date. Register online; call 302-577-7020 with any questions. $30 per person Alapocas Run

Basket Weaving

Sunday, October 27, 2024

9:00 AM

An egg basket is a rib basket credited to the pioneers in the southern Appalachian mountains of the Untied States. Rib baskets have a completely different construction that the splint baskets and students will learn the basic construction concept of the basket and will design their own shape. The baskets can be made all natural or with colors. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made less that 48 hour before class time. Register online.

Register Online

Add to Calendar 10/27/2024 9:00:00 AM 10/27/2024 3:00:00 PM America/New_York Basket Weaving An egg basket is a rib basket credited to the pioneers in the southern Appalachian mountains of the Untied States. Rib baskets have a completely different construction that the splint baskets and students will learn the basic construction concept of the basket and will design their own shape. The baskets can be made all natural or with colors. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made less that 48 hour before class time. Register online. Alapocas Run

Art in Action: Scoraform

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

5:30 PM

From accident to art, join Alapocas Run and Auburn Valley State Parks to learn how a Victorian invention called Vulcanized Fibre revolutionized modern American life from steam trunks to fuses, and its connection to the First State with 70% of the world’s supply made right here in Delaware. With recovered archival footage you’ll learn how a Canadian artist in the 20th century used the material to create sculptures in her own unique style: Scoraform. Afterwards, artist Kelly Martin will be teaching a workshop on making three-dimensional vase covers out of paper in an homage to this forgotten method of using paper products in art. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made less that 48 hour before class time. Register online.

Register Online

Add to Calendar 11/12/2024 5:30:00 PM 11/12/2024 8:00:00 PM America/New_York Art in Action: Scoraform From accident to art, join Alapocas Run and Auburn Valley State Parks to learn how a Victorian invention called Vulcanized Fibre revolutionized modern American life from steam trunks to fuses, and its connection to the First State with 70% of the world’s supply made right here in Delaware. With recovered archival footage you’ll learn how a Canadian artist in the 20th century used the material to create sculptures in her own unique style: Scoraform. Afterwards, artist Kelly Martin will be teaching a workshop on making three-dimensional vase covers out of paper in an homage to this forgotten method of using paper products in art. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made less that 48 hour before class time. Register online. Alapocas Run

Art in Action: Holiday Card Crafting

Thursday, December 5, 2024

6:00 PM

Join artist Linda Majewski for a card making workshop using layers of paper to create beautiful, dimensional designs. The cards are perfect to send cheer to a friend or to keep for yourself. All supplies provided.

Register Online

Add to Calendar 12/5/2024 6:00:00 PM 12/5/2024 8:00:00 PM America/New_York Art in Action: Holiday Card Crafting Join artist Linda Majewski for a card making workshop using layers of paper to create beautiful, dimensional designs. The cards are perfect to send cheer to a friend or to keep for yourself. All supplies provided. Alapocas Run