DuPont Environmental Education Center, the centerpiece of Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge, was built by the Riverfront Development Corporation of Delaware in 2009 and operates in partnership with Delaware Nature Society. It offers panoramic views, exhibits, and a 1/4 mile accessible pond loop, with free year-round public access. The refuge is a unique urban freshwater tidal marsh named for former Governor Russell Peterson, an environmental activist. This 212-acre marsh contains more than 400 species of plants and animals, including osprey, American beaver, and wild rice. Tidal marshes help filter pollutants, purify water, and alleviate flooding. The Riverfront Development Corporation of Delaware, working with Delaware Fish and Wildlife, restored the refuge as part of a broader effort to reclaim long-forgotten and abandoned land along the Christina River. Since 1996, the corporation has worked to transform the riverfront from industrial wasteland into a thriving destination rich in history and filled with recreational, cultural, retail, and culinary attractions. Delaware Nature Society connects people with the natural world through education, conservation, and advocacy, and provides interactive environmental programs such as paddling, summer camps, and field trips for a variety of ages. The Jack A. Markell Trail, named for former Delaware Governor Jack Markell, is a scenic walking and biking trail connecting Wilmington's Riverfront to Historic New Castle and was established in 2018.

Photo: Devry Becker Jones (CC0)