Friends of Lums Pond — Est. 2002

Our Story

From a handful of neighbors who cared about a dog park to a growing nonprofit bringing thousands of people to Delaware's most beloved freshwater pond.

Read Our History Pond Fest 2026

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Late 1990s Before We Had a Name

It Started with a Dog Park

In the late 1990s, a handful of Lums Pond regulars started asking a simple question: why doesn't this park have a dog park? [Founder name], a longtime Bear resident who walked these trails with her dogs almost every weekend, decided to do something about it.

What started as a petition became a coalition. Dog owners, trail users, families — people who had never met before found themselves at the same table, fighting for the same patch of ground. The dog park campaign was the spark. The community it built was the real achievement.

Clara — this is where your story goes. Who started it? How did it come together?

2002

2002 A New Chapter

An Organization is Born

In [2002 or 2003 — Clara to confirm], Friends of Lums Pond, Inc. was officially incorporated as a Delaware 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The founding members — [Founder names] among them — signed the paperwork, agreed on a mission, and registered a Friends agreement with the Division of Parks and Recreation.

They weren't interested in red tape for its own sake. The structure existed for one reason: to give this community a legitimate seat at the table when decisions about Lums Pond were being made.

"[Founding quote — something a founding member said about why this mattered]"

— [Founder Name], founding member

Clara — who were the founding members? Any quotes or stories from those early days?

2002 – 2020 Steady Service

Two Decades of Quiet Dedication

For nearly two decades, Friends of Lums Pond showed up — quietly, consistently, season after season. Trail cleanups. Invasive species removal. Community programs. A persistent, caring presence in a park that Delaware's residents have come to love.

~2004

The dog park advocacy effort pays off — the off-leash area at Lums Pond opens for the first time

~[Year] — Clara to confirm

[First major park project or landmark event — trail improvement, invasive removal campaign, equipment installation, etc.]

~[Year]

[Another milestone from this era — a big cleanup turnout, a partnership, a recognition, anything memorable]

~[Year]

[Any programs launched — nature education, community events, fundraisers that predate Pond Fest?]

2020 – 2021

The organization weathers the pandemic years. Park usage surges as neighbors rediscover Lums Pond. FOLP continues to show up.

Clara — what are the proudest moments from these years? Any specific projects, events, or people worth naming?

2021 – 2022 A New Chapter

New Faces, New Structure

Fresh energy arrived with a wave of new members in 2021 and 2022. For the first time in the organization's history, FOLP formed a full executive committee of seven — bringing together dedicated leaders for each major area of the organization's work.

This wasn't just an administrative change. It was a signal that the organization was ready to do more — to grow, to take on bigger projects, and to be more visible in the community it served.

Executive committee of seven formed for the first time
Consistent growth in active membership and volunteer participation
Deepened partnership with Delaware State Parks management

2024

July 2024 The Idea That Changed Everything

Pond Fest is Born

In the summer of 2024, a small planning committee had a big idea: what if FOLP hosted a real festival at Lums Pond — live music, food trucks, vendors, community — and used it as the organization's first major fundraiser? Three months later, they found out the answer.

Pond Fest 2024 — October 12, Lums Pond State Park

October 12, 2024 First Pond Fest

600 Neighbors, One Pond

The first Pond Fest wildly exceeded every expectation. What started as a $4,000 fundraising goal turned into $10,738 raised in a single afternoon. Nearly 600 people showed up.

~600 attendees — the largest FOLP event in history
$10,738 raised — nearly 3× the goal
35+ local vendors, artisans, and nonprofits
Live music across two outdoor stages
Beer garden, food trucks, kids zone, raffle

"The amount of interest was almost overwhelming — as if we are all craving something positive and pure to pour our hearts into."

Pond Fest 2025 — October 4

2025 Turning Dollars Into Impact

The First Bike Repair Station

The promise of Pond Fest 2024 was simple: raise money, put it back into the park. In spring 2025, that promise became real. FOLP installed the first-ever bike repair station at Lums Pond State Park — a lasting improvement for every cyclist who uses the trails.

Then, in October 2025, Pond Fest returned — bigger, more polished, and even more loved by the community.

Spring 2025: Dero Fixit Plus bike repair station installed in the park
October 4, 2025: Pond Fest 2025 — expanded lineup, new stages
1,000+ attendees — nearly double the first year
Continued membership and volunteer growth

2026

2026 Breaking New Ground

The Year of Firsts

2026 has already produced two milestones the organization has never hit before — and the biggest Pond Fest yet is still to come.

First Grant — March 2026

FOLP was awarded its first-ever grant, opening a new chapter for how the organization can fund park improvements.

First DoMore24 — March 2026

Friends of Lums Pond participated in Delaware's DoMore24 giving challenge for the first time, reaching new donors across the community.

Pond Fest 2026 — October 10

The third annual Pond Fest is coming October 10, 2026. The goal: $30,000 raised for the park and the community.

The Next Chapter is Unwritten

Be Part of What Comes Next

Lums Pond State Park is Delaware's largest freshwater pond and one of its most treasured public spaces. Every trail cleanup, every event, every donation is a vote for keeping it that way.

Pond Fest 2026 Get Involved About FOLP