About Us

Friends of Wilmington Parks works closely with Delaware State Parks staff to offer residents the chance to relax, play and enjoy nature just steps from their front door.

Our parks are linked like jewels along the Brandywine River from the central business district to the western city limits. They are oases of natural space, offering beautiful vistas, hiking trails, bike paths and picnic areas.

The Wilmington State Parks encompass five lush, urban parks along the Brandywine River in Delaware:

Brandywine Park marvels with its beautiful views of the Brandywine River as well as historic monuments.
H. Fletcher Brown Park provides a small oasis in the Wilmington business district.
Rockford Park in Wilmington’s Highlands neighborhood has one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city, the Rockford Tower.
Alapocas Run State Park, located between Augustine Cutoff and Route 141, encompasses 191 acres of woodland used by hikers, joggers and cyclists.
Kentmere Parkway is a half-mile long green parkway connecting Brandywine and Rockford Parks.

Leslie Hubbard, Executive Director

Executive Director Leslie Hubbard is passionate about our city parks. She is a lifelong resident of Wilmington and has lived in the Triangle, Midtown Brandywine and Trolley Square neighborhoods. She started her career at Delaware State Parks as an exhibit designer and served as the first Curator of Education at the Brandywine Zoo. For the past 20+ years, she worked as a consultant for cultural institutions and nonprofits in program design and content development. She loves playing tennis at the Rodney Street courts and walking her dog along the Brandywine and in Alapocas Run. Leslie has two grown children and lives in North Wilmington with her husband.

Blair Tkacz, President Vice President, Bank of America

Blair joined Bank of America in 2007 and is currently a VicePresident with oversight of the Data Decision Platforms Team in the Data, Digital & Global Marketing organization. She is deeply involved in Bank of America Corporate Community Volunteers and within employee networks for Delaware Environmental Network and LEAD for Women. Blair resides in Trolley Square and you can find her gallivanting about our parks with her dog Quincy.

FOWP Board Members

The FOWP Board of Stewards is comprised of civic, legal, business, nonprofit, education, financial, and horticultural leaders. Each board member serves a one-year term, and elections occur at the FOWP Annual Meeting in November.

Joe Scharf, Vice President REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER, PHILADELPHIA DIVISION

Joe resides near Rockford Park with his wife and daughter. He is a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, Penn State University and is a Registered Professional Engineer. He is employed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, located in the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He and his family enjoy walks, runs and bicycle rides through Rockford, Brandwine and Alapocas Run Parks. He and his daughter enjoy volunteering at the native habitat restoration area.

David Sorber, Treasurer

David Sorber is a lifelong resident of the Wilmington area. A graduate of St. Edmonds Academy, Salesianum School, and the University of Delaware, he has been a member of the Friends board since 2000. He was a banker in Wilmington for 46 years and retired in 2020. He and his wife Marie live in the Delaware Avenue neighborhood near Brandywine Park.

Katrina Carozza-Beach, Secretary Head of Cobrand partnerships and Operations at TD Bank

Katrina is the Head of Cobrand Partnerships and Operations at TD Bank. She is a Wilmington transplant from the Hudson Valley in NY and resides near Rockwood Park with her husband, 2 dogs and turtle. Katrina is often found walking her dogs along Brandywine Park, taking in the River views and seasonal blooms. She is also the Chapter Advisor of her sorority at Drexel University, a Board Member for the Mental Health Association in Delaware and an avid volunteer with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Sheryl Blowman

Retired Marketing Professional

Andy Croce

R&D Tech Specialist, Agilent

Kayli De La Cruz

Occupational Therapist, MSOT, OTR/L

Ed Pankowski

Retired – Attorney, City of Wilmington, Delaware Law Department

Ellen Muenter

Docent, Brandywine Zoo and Delaware Museum of Nature and Science

Kevin Fennessy

Virtual Sales Support Representative, IQVIA Boston Scientific

Mairead O'Sullivan

Perioperative Nurse
Christiana Hospital

Natalie Ephraim

Chemical Management Analyst

DuPont

Phillip Liu

Senior Vice President, Biology, Synnovation Therapeutics

Honorary Members

Park Historian and Author

Staff Member

FOWP Financial Information

Friends of Wilmington Parks is committed to financial transparency. For our most recent Form 990, see below.

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