Henlopen Acres Property Owners Corporation

Property owners in Henlopen Acres are automatically members of the Henlopen Acres Property Owners Corporation (HAPOC). By provisions of its property deed, membership in HAPOC is private, and not available to anyone who does not own property in Henlopen Acres.

News:

Election to the Board of Governors will be held in September 2025.

Nominations accepted until August 29.

Voting will be done by email.

Block W:

The sole purpose of HAPOC is the maintenance and control of Block W, which is an approximately nine (9) acre parcel of oceanfront property in Henlopen Acres that is located south of the Henlopen Acres Beach Club (HABC) extending to the Delaware State-owned lands to the south known as Deauville Beach.

The parcel includes the beach, dune, and treed lands from the mean high-water mark of the surf to the State-owned road called “Duneway” that leads to North Shores, and it extends from the foot of the bridle path adjacent to Pine Reach northward to the Henlopen Acres Beach Club.

Board of Governors – 2024 Season

Paddy Richards President

Johan Poulsen Vice President

Jeffrey Jacobs Treasurer

Nathalie MacGregor Secretary

George Dotzel Sergeant at Arms

Contact Us:

Email: henlopenblockw@gmail.com

HAPOC Role:

Although Block W Beach is a part of the Town of Henlopen Acres, it is privately owned and controlled by HAPOC. The responsibilities of the Board of Governors of the Corporation are:

Oversight of use by HAPOC members
Restriction of access or use by non-members
Maintenance of property, foliage, dunes, and protective sand fences
Maintenance of access paths to and from the beach
Maintenance of signs advising of privately owned beach
Maintenance of appropriate insurance coverages
Collection of an annual assessment to fund operations
Annual meeting with membership

HAPOC Rules for Use of the Block W Beach

Block W Beach is a private beach, intended to be used only by Henlopen Acres property owners, members of their immediate family, and their guests. To have access to the Block W Beach owners need a Beach Pass and adhere to these rules. Guests are permitted on Block W if accompanied by the owner or a family member. Renters of property in Henlopen Acres may also use Block W provided they have an appropriate beach access pass.

The Beach Pass is necessary even if you walk or ride a bike to the Block W Beach so it can be shown upon request by a HAPOC beach ambassador who is on duty from Memorial Day till the end of September.

The Block W Beach is accessed via the end of the cul-de-sacs on Pine Reach and Rolling Road. Bicycles and cars can be parked at these locations. Car parking permit issued by the Town of Henlopen Acres and are available at the Town offices. The permit must be displayed on the right side of the dashboard.

1. Beach Hours: Regular beach swimming hours are 10 am to 6 pm. No one is permitted on Block W beach after midnight, and before 6 am.

2. No lifeguards on the beach: All swimming is at the members’ own risk.

3. Chairs/Umbrellas: Members may bring their own beach chairs and umbrellas or may rent them from the Lynam beach shack located north on the property and off the Henlopen Acres Beach Club

4. Alcohol: No alcoholic beverages permitted on Block W or its beach.

5. Glass: No glass containers are permitted on Block W or its beach.

6. Water Devices: No use of boats, surf boards, or large rafts is allowed. Use of boogie boards, skim boards, or small rafts is permitted away from swimmers and bathers.

7. Dogs: Dogs are not allowed on the beach between 10 am and 6 pm. Dogs are allowed on the beach after 6 pm and before 10 am but must be leashed and under the control of the owner. It is expected that pet owners will clean up any dog waste.

8. Fishing: No fishing is permitted during regular beach swimming hours.

9. Dunes: No one is permitted to cross through the dunes other than on the designated paths. The dunes are restricted and protected areas.

10. Sports: Sports activities such as volleyball and frisbee are permissible on the beach but it is required that play take place away from others.

11. Music: Radios and CD players are permitted to play music, however the volume should be adjusted so as not to disturb others.

12. Tents: No tents are permitted for sleeping on Block W or its beach. Use is not permitted after 6 pm.

13. Clean-Up: Owners and their guests, as well as renters must clean up their debris and litter after each visit.

14. Events: Owners must request permission to hold any event on the beach, other than regular swimming and sunning, for more than twelve persons. A property owner may not sponsor a gathering or event on the beach for non-members, or on behalf of another organization. The beach may also be used for a bonfire at night, with set-up and clean-up services available for hire by Lynam 302-245-3832. Special Event Requests must be completed and sent to Paddy Richards paddyrichards3@gmail.com for approval and Bonfire Requests must be completed and sent to George Dotzel gdotzel@comcast.net for approval with a copy to townmgr@henlopenacres.com. and Johan Poulsen poulsen_johan@hotmail.com.

Please fill in this application. HAPOC-event-registration-form-May 2025

15. Fireworks: Use of fireworks is in violation of Delaware State law, the regulations of the Town of Henlopen Acres, and Block W rules and poses a potential safety risk to individuals, and a fire risk for the foliage on the property.

16. Underaged gatherings: Gatherings of teenagers must be supervised by an adult.

17. Security cameras: Block W has suffered littering and vandalism associated with underage alcohol consumption. At the suggestion of local authorities, to curb this abuse HAPOC has installed security cameras on the property. They will enable identification of issues and permit to address them individually.

If there are any questions about these restrictions, please contact the President of HAPOC Paddy Richards paddyrichards3@gmail.com

Wildlife in the dunes: The founder of Henlopen Acres, Colonel Wilbur S. Corkran, called it a “residential community of abiding beauty” (see the commemorative plaques at the Dodd’s Lane entrance to Henlopen Acres). He also deeded Block W to the Henlopen Acres Property Owners with a requirement the dunes and woodlands be preserved in their natural state.

Block W dunes are the pride of Henlopen Acres. Not only do our wooded dunes enhance the aesthetics of living in Henlopen Acres, shield us from the high winds and high water that accompany many ocean storms, they also are the natural habitat to animals, big and small, and to hundreds of different birds, including the iconic Bald Eagle.

We hope you will share our community’s passion for sustaining the unique charm of Block W and in protecting the “abiding beauty” of our magnificent dunes and preserving wildlife in the dunes.

Please send us pictures of wildlife (including birds) that you spot on your walks through the dunes. We will award prizes for Best Pictures and publish them on our webpage.