Delaware
Planning a visit to Delaware Water Gap parkland? Be aware of these winter closures.
Meteorological winter arrived Sunday, and roads and visitor use sites will be closing soon within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
The National Park Service has released an overview of what wintertime visitors can expect at the 70,000-acre federal parkland straddling the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border.
Winter is a time of reduced staffing and visitation to the park, meaning the park service needs to prioritize areas that remain open, according to a park service news release.
“Plowing and treating the main roads through the park is our top priority when we have snow and ice,” states Bill Tagye, the park’s facility manager. “Secondary roads, administrative buildings, and visitor use sites that remain open for the winter will be plowed after the main roads have been cleared and are safe for travel. Some roads will receive no winter maintenance and others will be closed.”
Of the more than 150 miles of dirt and paved roads within Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, the few determined to be of highest priority for snow and ice removal and treatment provide critical access to and through the park, including emergency access. They also provide routes for residents living within park boundaries to get to and from their homes, according to the release.
Visitors should bear in mind, however, that during and after winter weather events, roads may be snow-covered and driving may be hazardous. Even high priority roads may be closed temporarily if conditions deteriorate faster than road crews can keep up with or in the event of equipment failures or breakdowns. If that occurs, these roads will be re-opened as soon as park staff can get them cleared for travel.
Otherwise, anticipated closures will go into effect on Jan. 2, 2025, or at the first significant snowfall, whichever comes first. Most sites will re-open on April 15 while others will re-open in May.
The park service breaks down the priority areas and closures as follows:
Pennsylvania roads
Route 209 is the top priority road for winter maintenance and treatment in Pennsylvania.
River Road in Pennsylvania will receive no winter maintenance and will be closed prior to snow and/or ice events and re-opened when conditions permit. Zion Church Road will be plowed after River Road has been opened.
New Jersey roads
In New Jersey, the top priority roads that will remain open during the winter months are:
- Route 602 (from Millbrook Village to the National Park Service boundary).
- Route 615 except sections that are closed due to an active landslide and a road washout.
- Pompey Ridge Road to Route 615.
- Old Mine Road between Flatbrookville and Pompey Ridge Road.
- Old Mine Road between Millbrook and Flatbrookville.
Old Mine Road closures are planned as follows:
- The section of Old Mine Road between the northern boundary of Worthington State Forest and Millbrook Village and the dirt section of Old Mine Road near Van Campen Inn will be closed for winter.
- The northern section of Old Mine Road between Mettler Road and the intersection with Route 206 will receive no winter maintenance: This 4-mile section of road will not be plowed or treated for ice and may be closed if safety hazards arise. Depending on the weather, roads may be snow-covered and icy. Travel on this section of road is at your own risk. Cellphone service is not reliable.
Other New Jersey roads:
- Blue Mountain Lakes Road will be closed to vehicles at the bottom of the hill prior to a storm and will be re-opened when conditions allow. When the road is closed, visitors may walk, ski or snowshoe on the road to access the Blue Mountain Lakes trailhead, Skyline Drive, Crater Lake and the Appalachian Trail.
- The National Park Service section of Mountain Road will be closed to vehicles for the winter. The historic bridge over the Flatbrook in Walpack Center remains closed indefinitely due to substantial structural damage.
- Jager Road, from Old Mine Road to the park boundary, will receive no winter maintenance.
Visitor use sites
Walkways and parking lots will normally be cleared within 72 hours of the end of a storm, according to the release.
River access: River access will be available at Dingmans Access, Milford Beach and Bushkill Access. These areas will be closed temporarily during a storm and re-opened after priority routes are clear and safe for travel. River ice may limit access depending on conditions. The park service does not clear river ice from launch areas. Eshback Access will remain open but will receive no winter maintenance.
Trail access: All trails that are currently open will remain open during the winter, but trailhead parking will be dependent on conditions and may be limited in some areas. Road closures may also affect access to some trails. Trailhead parking areas that will remain open during the winter months will not be cleared of ice and snow until after all priority routes are clear and safe for travel. Trails are not maintained or groomed and may be ice- or snow-covered during the winter months.
Additional notes about trail access include:
- McDade Recreational Trail parking areas will be plowed after all other roads and facilities have been completed (except Jerry Lees and Venturo, which will receive no winter maintenance).
- The parking lot and access road to Dingmans Falls will remain closed to vehicles from Jan. 2, or the first significant snowfall, to April 15 but the trail will remain open, and visitors may walk, ski, or snowshoe on the roads leading to the falls.
- The upper parking lot for Raymondskill Falls will be closed from Jan. 2, or the first significant snowfall, to April 15 but the lower parking lot will remain open, as conditions permit.
- The parking lot for George W. Childs Park will be closed from Jan. 2, or the first significant snowfall, to April 15.
- The Cliff Park trailhead parking area will receive no winter maintenance and will be open as conditions allow.
Park service officials note that restrooms are available at the Kittatinny Point Picnic Area, Blue Mountain Lakes parking area and Millbrook Village in New Jersey and in Pennsylvania at Dingmans Access, Bushkill Meeting Center, Bushkill Access, Hidden Lake, Toms Creek and Milford Beach.
Visitors can use this Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Guide to help orient themselves to closures and areas without winter maintenance. It’s included below for viewing on some web-based platforms.
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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
Monday also coincided with the swearing-in ceremony of Womack, Controller Louis Rosenthal, District Attorney Tanner Rouse, Sheriff Siddiq Kamara and first-term Councilmember Joanne Phillips.
“I remain inspired by what the voters told me during this election,” Phillips said in the press release. “They told me to keep working hard, use my common sense, keep moving the county forward, implement changes as efficiently and effectively as we can, use our resources wisely, and take care of our people.”
Among its first orders of business, County Council voted to reappoint Barbara O’Malley as executive director for a two-year term to oversee the day-to-day operations of government departments.
County Council’s first official meeting is Wednesday.
Meet Aubrey Plaza of Delaware in 59 seconds
Here’s a snapshot of Delaware A-list actress Aubrey Plaza in 59 seconds.
Are you already in need of a laugh (or two) in 2026?
There are several comedians performing in Delaware area this year who might be able to get the job done. But it’ll cost you a couple of coins.
Here are some big (and smaller) comedians who are currently confirmed for touring in and near the First State, from now through the summer.
Some of the most notable Black comedians performed on HBO’s raw “Def Comedy Jam” in the 1990s, including Dave Chapelle, Bernie Mac and Thea Vidale. That’s the same unfiltered Vidale who also starred as the mama of WWE star Shelton Benjamin for a brief wrestling storyline. Vidale also played the mom of R&B singer Brandy on the ’90s sitcom “Thea,” which made the veteran comic the first Black female comedian to have a sitcom named after them on a national network, according to The Grand’s website. Vidale will headline a night of laughs at an event presented by Keenan Copening’s Bar None Entertainment. The event includes DJ-K and The Reverend Bob Levy.
Studio 1 of The Grand (818 N. Market St., Wilmington) at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 10. Tickets are $50. Visit thegrandwilmington.org or call (302) 652-5577.
Delaware State Fair alum Jeff Dunham is coming to the arena of the Philadelphia 76ers with his new “AI” tour, which doesn’t stand for “Allen Iverson,” sadly. The rock-star ventriloquist and his puppet gang, who have 4.76 million YouTube subscribers, will tickle patrons with the “Artificial Intelligence” tour, a subject we can’t avoid these days.
Xfinity Mobile Arena (3601 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) at 7 p.m. Jan. 15. Tickets start at $92. Visit jeffdunham.com.
With 9 million fans on Instagram, Desi Banks will march a small army of his soldiers into a battlefield of silliness where he’ll wage war against boredom this spring. Although people love his internet skits, Banks is a veteran performer who also can work a stage, which he’s shared with big names including Martin Lawrence and Mike Epps.
Punch Line Philly (33 E. Laurel St., Philadelphia) at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Jan. 16; 7 and 9:15 p.m., Jan. 17; 7 p.m. Jan. 18. For tickets or more info, visit punchlinephilly.com or call (215) 606-6555.
The new year equals a fresh start to hear new jokes. Next on deck is comedian Mike Cannon, who can overshare with the best of them. Cannon has a sharp-witted style of comedy that can turn on-the-spot crowd observations into three minutes of material. Among his long list of credits, the podcast troublemaker starred in the film “Timing” on Amazon Prime, and he’s appeared on Barstool Sports’ “Friday Night Pints.”
The Queen (500 N. Market St., Wilmington) at 8 p.m. Jan. 29. Tickets are $32. Visit thequeenwilmington.com or call (302) 400-7020.
Seven wild comics will hit one stage, with Mike Epps leading the way, during the return of the “We Them One’s” comedy tour at The Liacouras Center, home of the Temple Owls. The lineup features Epps, DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller, Chico Bean, Mojo Brookzz, Tony Roberts, Jayski and Fab Monroe.
Liacouras Center (1776 N. Broad St., Philadelphia) at 8 p.m., Feb. 20. Tickets are $85-$311+. Visit liacourascenter.com or call (215) 204-2400.
Maybe you saw Affion Crockett in a friendly roast battle against Kevin Hart, or in Netflix’s “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.” Either way, one of the next places you can catch Crockett is headlining four shows at Punch Line Philly.
Punch Line Philly (33 E. Laurel St., Philadelphia) at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Feb. 20; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Feb. 21. For tickets or more info, visit punchlinephilly.com or call (215) 606-6555.
It was only late last year when comedian and actor Patton Oswalt came to Wilmington. Now he’s headed back to Delmarva, this time playing Ocean City.The longtime entertainer has a résumé in TV and film that’s longer than the “Star Wars” title sequence with TV and movie credits that include “The King of Queens,” “Parks and Recreation” and last year’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.”
Ocean City Performing Arts Center (4001 Coastal Highway, Convention Center, Ocean City) at 7 p.m. March 5. Tickets are $61.90 to $185.50. Visit ocmdfilmfestival.com.
Comedian Ryan Davis ended 2025 on a high note, opening for well-respected comic Ali Siddiq. Davis is best known for his viral videos on social media, where he spent years ranting about pop culture or whatever else was on his mind. Some of his notable credits include appearances on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “All Def Comedy.”
Punch Line Philly (33 E. Laurel St., Philadelphia) at 7 and 9:15 p.m. March 20; 7 and 9:15 p.m. March 21. For tickets or more info, visit punchlinephilly.com or call (215) 606-6555.
Going to a Garrison Keillor performance can feel like you’re at a concert, poetry session and a comedy show in one event. The storyteller, who is a native of Minnesota, will be joined with special guest Rich Dworsky for an evening of double trouble.
The Grand (818 N. Market St., Wilmington) at 8 p.m. March 28. Tickets are $66-$86. Visit thegrandwilmington.org or call (302) 652-5577.
Tracy Locke and more: ‘April Fools Festival,’ Milton
No matter the forecast, comedian Tracy Locke is bringing you spring comedy showers in Milton, so bring a poncho. The headliner will be joined with Dave Evans and host Keith Purnell.
Milton Theatre (110 Union St., Milton) at 7:30 p.m. April 25. Tickets are $15.76-$22.35. Visit miltontheatre.com or call (302) 684-3038
Don’t think David Sedaris stands around telling jokes all day. Because he’s versatile enough to sit down and write humor, which he’s proved through multiple New York Times bestsellers. This includes Sedaris’ writings in “Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls” (comical essays about personal events that range from a colonoscopy to his dad wearing a shirt and underwear during dinner). Sedaris reminds his fans that the same thing that can make you cry also can make you laugh.
The Playhouse on Rodney Square (1007 N. Market St, Wilmington) at 7 p.m. April 12. Tickets are $55-$92. Visit thegrandwilmington.org or call (302). 888-0200.
There might not be a comedian today who’s more likeable than Katt Williams, depending on whom you ask. Williams, who has headlined arenas for years, caught fire on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast in 2024 with an episode that cracked over 91 million views. He’s seen a surge of popularity over the last two years that saw more podcast appearances like Joe Rogan’s pod, which racked up 25 million views alone.
Liacouras Center (1776 N. Broad St., Philadelphia) at 8 p.m. April 24. Tickets are $92-$353+. Visit liacourascenter.com or call (215) 204-2400.
Aries Spears, Wilmington
The biggest comedian who’s been announced for Delaware in 2026 is Aries Spears, who has been in the game for over three decades, and he’s still cracking people up. From his eight seasons on the sketch series “MADtv” to being a regular guest on the popular YouTube channel Vlad TV, Spears has shown his versatile ability to be funny with a script and in candid conversation. While Spears isn’t just an impressionist comic, he’s got a knack for mimicking entertainers like DMX, Jay-Z, Denzel Washington and Shaquille O’Neal.
The Grand (818 N. Market St., Wilmington) at 8 p.m. May 1. Tickets are $55-$99. Visit thegrandwilmington.org or call thegrandwilmington.org.
Pennsylvania native Shane Gillis is gonna be on an emotional high when he headlines The Linc, home of the Philadelphia Eagles, this summer, joined by special guests. Gillis is one of the hottest names in comedy and showed people when he appeared in Bud Light’s 2025 Super Bowl ad with Peyton Manning and Post Malone, an experience that was capped off with The Birds winning the Super Bowl.
The Linc (One Lincoln Financial Field Way, Philadelphia) at 8 p.m. July 17. Tickets are $30-$171+. Visit lincolnfinancialfield.com.
Delaware
Siddiq Kamara sworn in as Delaware County sheriff, turning family tragedy into push for change
MEDIA, Pa. (WPVI) — Siddiq Kamara was sworn in on Monday as the new sheriff of Delaware County, marking a milestone he said he never imagined before a family tragedy pushed him toward public service.
Kamara, who won nearly 63% of the vote in November, greeted supporters as he arrived in uniform.
“I haven’t gotten to wear a uniform like this in a long time,” he said before the ceremony.
Moments later, he reflected on the weight of the day, saying he was “just trying to let everything sink in.”
The moment became real as he took the oath of office — a role he said he could not have foreseen before August 27, 2021.
“August 2021 changed my family’s life forever,” Kamara said. That was when 8-year-old Fanta Bility, his cousin, was killed by police gunfire as she left an Academy Park High School football game.
“When I got the call that I lost my cousin, that’s a call that nobody should ever feel. And at that moment, something had to be done,” Kamara said.
Drawing on his experience as a police officer, National Guard member, and employee of the attorney general’s office, Kamara pushed for increased training within the Sharon Hill Police Department. That effort could expand statewide through legislation known as “Fanta’s Law.”
State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams said he is optimistic about the bill’s future, calling it “one of the rare cases where you have bipartisan support around this bill.”
Supporters said Kamara brings a valuable perspective as the son of Liberian immigrants.
“People see themselves in him, and it’s great to have that type of representation,” said Monica Taylor, chair of the Delaware County Council.
Anthony Moss, of Laborers’ Local 413, added, “I just think he’s going to bring a lot of things. A lot of good things.”
At 30, Kamara noted his place in history.
“I’m the youngest sheriff in America,” he said while speaking to a standing-room-only crowd inside the Delaware County Courthouse in Media.
Among those watching was his aunt, Tenneh Kromah, Fanta’s mother.
“He fought for Fanta. I’m so happy for that. To get this position, I’m so happy,” she said.
Kamara pledged to honor that responsibility.
“I’ll make this promise to you guys. I promise to serve with integrity, accountability, and to make sure everybody in Delaware County is protected and served equally,” he said.
Kamara said his faith guides him, noting that his swearing-in also marked another milestone: he is the first Muslim sheriff in Delaware County.
He said he plans to focus on improving training within the department, modernizing the office and expanding community outreach.
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
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