On March 28th, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm DNREC will share the latest news on the Bancroft Bridge.
Please click here for more details and meeting information.
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 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!
Step back in time at the Blue Ball Barn. Learn about the rich history of the area while touring The Delaware Folk Art Collection.
 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Saturday, April 6, 2024
9:00 AM
Learn traditional weaving techniques with master basket weaver, Joan Betzold. This backpack was designed for a forager. It has removable and adjustable strapping, handmade oak handle and students will be able to choose their strapping color. Colors are dark green, brown, black and royal blue.
Friday, April 19, 2024
6:00 PM
If you love to look for reptiles and amphibians this is the guided hike for you! Join our park naturalist to search for and identify various types of critters around Alapocas Run. Program is free, pre-registration is required by April 18th at noon. Call the park office to register at 302.577.1164.
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
8:00 AM
Pacem in Terris is a grassroots, non-partisan, interfaith, member-supported non-profit organization that brings together people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and professions for the purpose of positive peaceful change on the local, national and global level. The Youth Peace Art Exhibition is where the art and words of young people can help us all see the world anew. “It is an opportunity for all of us to learn from our younger citizens what the world should be like.” No registration required. Pacem in Terris runs from April 1 to April 25.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
7:00 PM
A seasoned performer with over 34 years on the road, Rory has toured extensively with The Makem Brothers, and the Makem and Spain Brothers, and for 17 years played guitar with his father, Tommy Makem. At his best on stage, Rory captivates his audiences with charisma, passion for the songs, poetry, history, humor and skilled musicianship. For information on all these shows. visit www.greenwillow.org, email info@greenwillow.org, or call (610) 566-4932.
Saturday, April 27, 2024
9:30 AM
This program is full, please check out some of the other programs we offer.
Saturday, April 27, 2024
1:00 PM
Did you know that the Blue Ball Barn was once a dairy farm for the Nemours Estate? Join us for Farm Day as we explore our shared history with demonstrations.
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
7:00 PM
Máire Ní Chathasaigh has been described as the 'Doyenne of Irish Harpers', an artist of astonishing virtuosity and versatility. Her longtime partner, Chris Newman has been called 'one of the UK's most extraordinary and influential guitarists', a phenomenal instrumentalist. Maire and Chris have toured the world over, and this will mark their 4th appearance on our Green Willow stage since 1995. For information on all these shows. visit www.greenwillow.org, email info@greenwillow.org, or call (610) 566-4932
Friday, May 3, 2024
8:00 AM
See the work of the Harmony Weavers Guild, a local collective of creative textile and fiber enthusiasts. Their work includes tapestries, wearables, and felted pieces from a variety of artists as well as fiber materials. Free, no registration required. This exhibition runs from May 4th to May 27th.
Saturday, May 4, 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
Sunday, May 5, 2024
1:00 PM
Join paper artist Linda Majewski to create a beautiful bouquet of paper flowers. In this two-hour workshop, Linda will instruct participants on how to craft an assortment of flowers from paper which can be taken home in a small glass vase. Perfect for decoration or to give as a gift! Ages 16+
Friday, May 10, 2024
8:00 AM
See the work of the Harmony Weavers Guild, a local collective of creative textile and fiber enthusiasts. Their work includes tapestries, wearables, and felted pieces from a variety of artists as well as fiber materials. Free, no registration required. This exhibition runs from May 4th to May 27th.
Friday, May 17, 2024
8:00 AM
See the work of the Harmony Weavers Guild, a local collective of creative textile and fiber enthusiasts. Their work includes tapestries, wearables, and felted pieces from a variety of artists as well as fiber materials. Free, no registration required. This exhibition runs from May 4th to May 27th.
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
7:00 PM
Kalos (Scottish fiddle champion Ryan McKasson, guitarist & vocalist Eric McDonald and accordion master Jeremiah McLane) are masters of tradition who purposefully explore the dark corners floating on its edges. The result is an alluring complexity, full of spontaneous musicality. An air of mystery and adventure pervades a sound compelling enough to transcend boundaries and appeal to music lovers of all stripes. For information on all these shows. visit www.greenwillow.org, email info@greenwillow.org, or call (610) 566-4932
Friday, May 24, 2024
8:00 AM
See the work of the Harmony Weavers Guild, a local collective of creative textile and fiber enthusiasts. Their work includes tapestries, wearables, and felted pieces from a variety of artists as well as fiber materials. Free, no registration required. This exhibition runs from May 4th to May 27th.
Saturday, May 25, 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
Sunday, June 9, 2024
1:00 PM
Chanchitos y Gatitos: Join Miranda Blas to create sculptures using the Chilean Folk Art tradition of Chanchitos. Chanchito means little piggy and gatitos little kitties in Spanish. Each chanchito has three legs and owning one is considered good luck! Both chanchitos and gatitos are Miranda’s interpretation of the traditional Chilean craft. Bring home some buena suerte and lots of cuteness with one of these chanchitos!