Recreation

In an area that features so many attractive qualities, it is easy to find things to do. Recreational opportunities abound. Whether you are looking for a walk in the woods or a day at the ballpark, New Castle County can meet your needs.

The crown jewel of the park system is the Delaware Greenways, which includes corridors of open space connecting communities and providing hiking, biking and running trails. The Greenways also preserve Delaware’s natural, scenic, historic and cultural treasures. Along the 57 miles of countywide trails, you will discover the Rockwood Museum, Bellevue State Park, Fox Point Park on the Delaware River, Brandywine Creek, Brandywine Creek State Park and Rockford Park in Wilmington. The rebirth of Wilmington’s waterfront has renewed the energy throughout the city. The Riverfront Blues Festival brings in 10,000 - 12,000 people annually for its two-day event. The Clifford Brown Jazz Festival in Rodney Square is a weeklong event that draws 40,000 people and internationally acclaimed musicians each year.

Thinking of sports? The Wilmington Blue Rocks, an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, have the best winning percentage (943-728 .564 %) in all of full-season minor league baseball, dating back to 1993. Wilmington leads all teams that have existed over the last 12 seasons in full-season affiliated minor league baseball, and boasts the best winning percentage in the 59-year history of the Carolina League. The World Team Tennis Delaware Smash, playing at the AstraZeneca tennis facility just north of Wilmington, finished their 2003 regular season undefeated at home and went on to win the WTT Pro League Championship title.

With about 20 public and private courses in New Castle County, northern Delaware golfers have ample opportunity to stay in the swing of things. Back Creek Golf Club (one of Golfweeks Top 100 Modern Golf Courses), Frog Hollow, Three Little Bakers Golf Club, Ed “Porky” Oliver Golf Club and Hartefeld National (designed by Tom Fazio) are just the beginning of your golf experience in Delaware.

Delaware Park offers thoroughbred horse racing, slots and year-round simulcast from tracks across the country. Free admission and free parking is just the beginning of an entertainment experience that includes 2,000 state of- the-art slot machines, plus a variety of restaurants including the Dining Terrace overlooking the paddock.

On a smaller scale, there is an almost endless variety of destinations and activities, including the Wilmington Rowing Center, the Rockwood Ice Cream Festival, the Brandywine Arts Festival, Brandywine Zoo, Fort Delaware State Park, Lums Pond, the Arden Fair and historic New Castle.

Delaware Stadium, on the campus of the University of Delaware, is one of the finest football facilities in the country at the NCAA 1AA level and is the largest in the Atlantic 10 Conference — seating 22,000 fans. Home to the UD Blue Hens, the 2003 1AA football champions, fans can watch 2009 home games against opponents that include Richmond, James Madison and Northeastern.