University of Delaware Athletics, Community and Campus Recreation (DACCR) has partnered with University Student Life, the City of Newark and BikeNewark to raise awareness for the plethora of outdoor recreation opportunities on campus and around Newark.

"I'm very excited to see this initiative come to fruition and deeply inspired by the collaborative efforts between the City of Newark and the University of Delaware,” said Adam Jines, director of campus recreation. “The efforts of many will raise awareness for the abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities that will benefit not only our students but the entire Newark community." 

The initiative has led to signs being posted throughout several locations around Newark to allow visitors to scan a QR code and identify the different outdoor recreation opportunities available in close proximity to North Newark, South Newark, the North Green and the South Green areas.

"The City of Newark and UD campus has so many existing outdoor rec resources. I keep saying you can't build a forest and river, yet we have that bordering campus,” said Dan Watson, deputy athletic director of competitive excellence and campus recreation. “This initiative brings attention and organization to these amazing, accessible resources."

A number of entities worked together on making the project come to fruition, including University of Delaware DACCR, University of Delaware Student Life, BikeNewark, and Newark Parks and Recreation.

"We at the University are thrilled to partner with the City of Newark on this exciting outdoor recreation initiative,” said José-Luis Riera, vice president for student life. “At the heart of this campaign is student wellbeing, as we strive to nurture a vibrant community where students can easily access a diverse range of activities. Our goal is to create an unparalleled student experience, helping them discover and appreciate the wealth of local natural assets right at their fingertips."

By identifying the many outdoor resources available in the area, these organizations are making it easier than ever to explore all that Newark has to offer, leading to positive health outcomes for both the city of Newark and UD campus communities.

"BikeNewark has been working with our partners to improve recreational opportunities in Newark for the whole community for more than 10 years,” said Bob McBride, chair of BikeNewark. “We provide a partnership of Public Safety forces, City Government and Regional Planning/Advocacy organizations to help solve problems and propose good ideas for recreation and transportation."