DNREC proposes $115 annual pass for Deauville Beach

March 29, 2024 1

With the countdown to Memorial Day officially on, Delaware State Parks officials outlined a proposed fee structure for Deauville Beach in Rehoboth Beach during an information session March 27. If approved, the fee structure would be unique among state parks.

For the first time in 50 years, Deauville Beach will be operated by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environment Control, not the City of Rehoboth Beach. A 1974 lease between the two governing bodies had been extended multiple times, but they couldn’t reach an agreement after the lease expired in June. DNREC announced in February that it would resume operational control of Deauville Beach and has been working on a proposed fee structure since.

Greg Abbott, Delaware State Parks section administrator, presented the proposed fee structure. He said the parking lot can hold 170 vehicles, and trash would be a carry-in, carry-out situation like the rest of the state parks.

“We’ve been working at full speed because Memorial Day is just around the corner,” said Abbott.

Operating Deauville Beach will cost about $170,000 annually, with a one-time start-up cost of $50,000, said Abbott. Similar to the city, he said the division’s current daily and annual pass fee structure would result in an operating loss for the state. The state charges in-state vehicles $35 and out-of-state vehicles $70 for an annual pass. Daily fees for ocean parks are $5 per day for in-state vehicles and $10 per day for out-of-state vehicles.

As proposed, said Abbott, there will not be hourly meters, a three-day pass, a weekly pass or a seasonal pass that’s transferable. Instead, he said, it would cost $15 per day for a weekday, $20 per day for a weekend day and $115 for a seasonal pass that’s non-transferable and only valid at Deauville Beach.

For state park annual, lifetime and surf-fishing permit holders, a $25 discount is proposed for the Deauville Beach annual pass, said Abbott.

For 2024, these fees would run Memorial Day through Nov. 30, said Abbott. For 2025, the fees would be in effect March 1 to Nov. 30, he said.

Rehoboth’s parking season runs May 15 to Sept. 15; the city’s parking permits will no longer be honored at Deauville Beach, said Abbott.

DNREC is taking comments through an online survey until Monday, April 15. Abbott said there will be a presentation on the proposal to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council during a meeting at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, May 2, at Trap Pond State Park in Laurel. Following that, the council will submit its comments to DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin for review and approval, he said.

Deauville’s fee structure would go into effect no later than Memorial Day weekend.

Public comment after the presentation

Public comment was taken following Abbott’s presentation. Most of the comments were related to overflow parking creeping into the neighborhoods that surround the parking lot.

North Shores Beach Patrol Capt. Kent Buckson, who was the Rehoboth Beach Patrol captain for 21 years and a lifeguard for the city for a total of 34 years, offered his assistance to the state.

“I know exactly what needs to be done,” he said.

Rehoboth resident Jackie Dolan asked for the state to come up with a system for using the tennis courts without having to pay the full daily fee since tennis players are only going to be there a short time. Also, there could be different rates for residents and out-of-staters, she said.

Park Avenue resident Philip Mudd urged the state to keep a close eye on the homeless population that comes around every summer.

Amy Blok said she was concerned about the use of canopies and fishing from the shore.

Another commenter suggested signage be installed directing overflow traffic from Deauville Beach to Gordons Pond. That way, the commenter said, people won’t park in the neighborhood streets.

Finally, Rehoboth resident John Dewey warned of potential conflict along the boundaries because of differing beach use rules. He said there need to be clear protocols in place for enforcement of those rules.