Lums Pond State Park

Geobox Protected Area
name = Lums Pond State Park
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category_local = Delaware State Park
category_iucn =

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image_caption = A view of a picnic area along the edge of Lums Pond
etymology_type = Named for
etymology = Lums Pond
country = United States
state = Delaware
region_type = County
region = New Castle
district_type =
district =
city =
location =
lat_d = 39
lat_m = 33
lat_s = 30
lat_NS = N
long_d = 75
long_m = 43
long_s = 15
long_EW = W
elevation_imperial =
elevation_round = 1
area_unit = acre
area_imperial = 1790
area_round = 1
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biome =
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geology =
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plant =
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established_type =
established = 1963
management_body = Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
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visitation =
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free_type = Nearest city
free = Bear, Delaware
free1_type =
free1 =


map_caption = Location of Lums Pond State Park in Delaware
map_locator = Delaware
map_first =
website = [http://www.destateparks.com/lpsp/lpsp.asp Lums Pond State Park]

Lums Pond State Park is a 1790 acre (7.24 km²) Delaware state park near Bear, New Castle County, Delaware in the United States. The park surrounds Lums Pond, an impoundment built by the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal on St. Georges Creek. The C&D built the pond as a source of water to fill the locks of the canal that connected the Chesapeake Bay with the Delaware River during the early 1800s. Lums Pond State park is open for a wide variety of year-round recreation.

History

Lums Pond, the largest freshwater pond in Delaware, covering 200 acres (0.81 km²) in central New Castle County, was built in the early 1800s as an impoundment for the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. cite web | url = http://www.destateparks.com/lpsp/lpsp.asp | title = Dive Into Fun | accessdate = 2007-09-18 | publisher = Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control ] The pond supplied water to fill the locks of the canal and water power for a local gristmill. The pond became a natural recreational draw for the residents of Delaware. Ownwership was transferred to the state of Delaware in the mid 1900s. Lums Pond State Park was opened to the public in 1963.

Recreation

Lums Pond is the center of recreation at Lums Pond State Park. Although swimming is not permitted in the pond, it is open to boating and fishing. Rowboats, sailboats, kayaks, canoes, and pedal boats are available to rent. Lums Pond is a freshwater fishery with the common game fish being pickerel, crappie, catfish, and largemouth bass and striped bass. The striped bass are stocked by the Fish and Wildlife Division of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. The other game fish are native species. cite web | url = http://www.destateparks.com/lpsp/fishboat.htm | title = Fishing and Boating at Lums Pond | accessdate = 2007-09-18 | publisher = Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control ]

Many visitors to Lums Pond State Park take advantage of the wide variety of camping opportunities that are available. There 62 campsites without electric connections, 6 sites with electricity, 2 yurts, and 4 sites with stabling facilities for horses. The campsites are open to RVs or tents. The yurts feature bunk beds and a futon, electricity, and a large outdoor deck with freshwater and a grill.

Lums Pond State Park is open to hiking, cross country skiing and snow mobiling on Lums Pond State Parks network of trails. Summit North Marina is located on the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. It has 250 private slips for boats and offers boat and fuel sales, boat storage and boat repair. Many different ballfields and game courts are spread throughout Lums Pond State Park. The fields are open to football, soccer, baseball, and softball. The courts are open to basketball, volleyball and tennis. Horseshoes pits are available as is a disc golf course. Hunting is permitted with a hunting license from the Division of Fish and Wildlife but a special permit from the Division of Parks and Recreation is also required since the park is Parks and Recreation property. The special permit can be aquired at the park office. Any more questions about the park or anything that is offered by the park can be directed to 302-368-6989 which is the number to Lums Ponds office or by calling the Division of Parks and Recreations headquaters in Dover at 302-739-9200. [cite web | url = http://www.fw.delaware.gov/Hunting/Pages/Wildlife.aspx | title = Division of Fish and Wildlife | accessdate = 2008-09-09 | publisher = Delaware.gov]

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within convert|30|mi|km of Lums Pond State Park:
*Bellevue State Park (New Castle County)
*Brandywine Creek State Park (New Castle County)
*Elk Neck State Park (Maryland)
*Fort Delaware State Park (New Castle County)
*Fort DuPont State Park (Sussex County)
*Fort Mott State Park (New Jersey)
*Fox Point State Park (New Castle County)
*First State Heritage Park at Dover (Kent County)
*Parvin State Park (New Jersey)
*Ridley Creek State Park (Pennsylvania)
*Susquehanna State Park (Maryland)
*Wilmington State Parks (New Castle County)
*White Clay Creek Preserve (Pennsylvania)
*White Clay Creek State Park (New Castle County)

References