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Park Highlights

Check Out the Sugar Bowl

Perched on the edge of a cliff with picturesque views of the Brandywine River, the Sugar Bowl Observatory was constructed in 1902 and has served as a community meeting place for generations. Check out the unique domed architecture, take in the view or plan a special event.

Explore Rockford Park

Climb to the top of the over 100-year-old Rockford Tower for a spectacular view of the city. Pack a picnic and relax on the lawn, or bring your dogs to enjoy the dog park.

Enjoy a Summer Concert

Listen to great music on the summer breeze in Wilmington State Parks! Grab your chair, snacks and friends for weekly concerts at Rockford Tower.

Get Together

Pavilions and picnic areas, athletic fields and sports courts – Wilmington State Parks has plenty of spaces for your group or team to gather! a permit may be required.

Have a Monumental Visit

Wilmington State Parks are dotted with monuments to commemorate the cultural history of the area. Appreciate the sacrifices of our veterans, learn more about industrial Wilmington and enjoy the Josephine Fountain as you visit 12 monuments throughout the park.

About the Park

Experience nature and recreation in the heart of the city through Wilmington State Parks, an urban retreat along the Brandywine River that has fostered family memories and traditions for generations. Brandywine, Rockford and H. Fletcher Brown parks along with Kentmere Parkway and the Hobbs Property lie under this state park umbrella. The Jasper Crane Rose Garden and Josephine Fountain offer tranquil spots to enjoy the natural landscape. The Rockford Tower and Sugar Bowl, as well as memorials and monuments that serve as gathering places with rich cultural history. Historic bridges serve as a connection to the surrounding communities. Tennis courts, ball fields and fitness stations provide exercise opportunities, and the park also serves as the perfect place for festivals, concerts and picnics.

Park History

Wilmington State Parks was founded in 1998 when the Division of Parks and Recreation assumed operational and maintenance responsibility for four existing parks that had been managed by New Castle County’s Department of Parks and Recreation – Brandywine, Rockford and H. Fletcher Brown parks, and the Hobbs Tract.

Brandywine Park is the oldest of Wilmington’s parks. The park was established 1886, when the Delaware legislature created the Wilmington Board of Park Commissioners at the urging of William P. Bancroft and other leading industrialists. The Commission was tasked with creating parks for the city, with Brandywine Park being one of the first.

Rockford Park was established in 1889, with the first acreage donated by Bancroft and his brother, as well as the du Pont family. Rockford Tower was constructed of local Brandywine Blue Rock at the at the highest point in the park in 1901, serving as both a water tower and observation platform. Today, the tower is open to the public on select days, please consult our programming calendar

H. Fletcher Brown Park land use has evolved over the years. Old Soldiers Park, the first park, was established and maintained by Civil War veterans until 1919. Then it became a vocational high school, named after H. Fletcher Brown, a prominent DuPont chemist and philanthropist who gifted the school to the Board of Education in 1938. The school operated until 1969 when Delaware Technical High School opened, and was demolished in 1972. The land became a park again in 1982.

The Hobbs Tract adjacent to Valley Garden Park, was once summer estate of U.S. Senator T. Coleman du Pont and Patricia Hobbs, sister of painter George Alexis Wymouth. The 62 acre tract was purchased by the State of Delaware in 2004.
Brandywine Park

Home to the Brandywine Zoo, iconic Sugar Bowl, Josephine Fountain and the Jasper Crane Rose Garden, Brandywine Park is a cultural hub with many activities to explore. Located on North Park Drive.
Rockford Park

The park’s centerpiece Rockford Tower is an iconic piece of the Wilmington skyline and offers beautiful views of the city and sprawling greens loved by locals. Located at 2000 Lookout Drive.
H. Fletcher Brown Park

Meet a friend, eat lunch or stroll through this cozy park adjacent to Brandywine Park. An overlook provides scenic views of the Brandywine River and the historic millrace that provides much of Wilmington’s water supply. Located at the corner of South Park Drive and N. King St.
Our Trail

Come visit the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail that you can explore at our park. It is both pet friendly and handicap accessible.

To find out more information, please visit our trail finder page:

Trail Finder
Happy Valley Playground Project

Wilmington State Parks is bringing a new playground to the Happy Valley area of Brandywine Park. As we continue the conversation that began last spring about replacing the old playground, we can begin to reimagine this area on the South side of the Brandywine. Please take a look at the proposed playground and let us know your thoughts by completing the survey below. We want this to be a great park resource for you and your family.

Proposed Playground Information Flyer

Complete the Survey

Upcoming Programs

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Monuments Hike

A Night at the Tower