
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will close Killens Pond State Park Saturday, Dec. 5 for the 2020 Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) Cross Country state championship races. The park will reopen at 8 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 6.
For the safety of the competing teams and to limit community spread of COVID-19, DIAA has announced that no spectators will be permitted at this year’s championships. Instead, the races will be live streamed by the DIAA. The DIAA will broadcast Division II Girls 10:30 a.m., Division II Boys at noon, Division I Girls 1:30 p.m. and Division I Boys 3 p.m.
To support the DIAA mandate, the park will be closed during the championship Saturday to avoid any large gatherings.
To watch the races or for more information about the championship, visit www.doe.k12.de.us/diaa.
This 2.6 mile trail loops around the edge of the park’s 66-acre millpond, and offers beautiful views of the pond and surrounding habitats. As you hike, look and listen for Pileated Woodpecker, prothonotary warbler or barred owl. Visit in autumn to enjoy spectacular fall foliage.
Killens Pond is the perfect place to kayak, canoe, boat, or peddleboat. Watch for resident nesting bald eagles overhead or perched in the tall pines along the ponds edge. Head towards the Murderkill River for a terrific paddle, and watch for a small stand of baldcypress trees.
Stop by the park’s nature center to see live animals and learn about the creatures that live here. Pack a picnic, and enjoy lunch with a view on the Nature Center’s outdoor deck. Join a park naturalist for an educational program, including guided hikes, kayak tours, and more.
Don’t miss the Killens Pond Waterpark! Complete with four speed slides, a leisure pool, and a tot lot for younger visitors, the waterpark offers excitement and relaxation for everyone.
Cast a line for bass, crappie and sunfish. This fishing spot is reminiscent of local waterways where Native Americans fished, hunted, and lived. The abundance of life around the water allowed Native Americans to thrive in the area that is now Killens Pond State Park.
Hike to the Pondside Bridge and see where the Murderkill River meets Killens Pond! Scan the shoreline for a water snake basking in the sun or hunting small fish and frogs. Access the bridge from the Pondside Trail or the cross country course.
The centerpiece of Killens Pond State Park, conveniently located in central Delaware, is the 66-acre millpond, which was established in the late 1700s. Before the pond was created, the Murderkill River and surrounding hardwood forest were sites of several Native American homes and hunting camps. Killens Pond became a state park in 1965.
The pond is home to largemouth bass, catfish, carp, perch, crappie, bluegills, and pickerel, all of which await the patient angler.* A convenient boat launching ramp is available, and canoes, kayaks, and pedal boats can be rented during the summer. Paddlers will also enjoy the park's water trail up the Murderkill River.
A fishing license required to fish in Delaware State Parks. Get info about fishing permits
Check prices or get more detailed info on how you can canoe, kayak, or paddle Killens Pond
Starting from 54 feet in the air, our two speed slides and two spiral slides with tunnels offer heart-pounding excitement for those who dare! The main pool's zero-depth entrance makes getting in and out easy, and smaller visitors will enjoy the tot pool and tot lot, featuring bubblers, ground water jets, small slides, and a pool-side waterplay system. A food concession and swim shop offer everything you need for a day full of waterpark fun. A separate per-person admission fee is charged at the waterpark. Visit our waterpark page
The year-round wooded campground offers electric and water hookups, accommodating both tents and recreational vehicles, as well as a primitive walk-in camping loop for tents only. Family cabins sleep four and feature an efficiency kitchen with an eating area, bedroom, bath with shower, A/C, and heat. The roomier, deluxe Pond View Cottage has extra amenities and an outstanding view of the pond. Click for Camping Information
Hiking and biking trails and a cross-country running course wind through several types of habitat featuring native plants and animals. Game courts and ball fields satisfy the athlete, and an 18-hole disc golf course challenges players to test their skill with a flying disc. The park also features playground equipment and picnic areas, and four pavilions are available to reserve for larger group events. Educational and recreational programs are conducted throughout the year at the Killens Pond Nature Center, which also features a permanent exhibit of local reptiles and amphibians and is also available for meetings and private events. Rent the Killens Pond Nature Center
Fork Branch Nature Preserve – contains mature upland forest and is the second largest forest tract in the St. Jones River watershed and coastal plain pond wetlands. Barred owls nest in the mature floodplain forest (Barred owls are a species of conservation concern due to the little mature floodplain remaining in Delaware) and it is also home to a variety of migratory and resident birds including Red-shouldered Hawk, another species of conservation concern, Prothonotary Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, White-breasted Nuthatch and Pileated Woodpecker..
The preserve is located at the corner of Kenton and West Denneys roads, along the Maidstone Branch in the St. Jones River Watershed.
Amenities: Loop Trail (pedestrian only). Parking on site.
Acreage: 257 acres
There are currently no programs scheduled at this location