Community green space planned for Creative District

Wilmington Renaissance Corporation’s (WRC) Creative District initiative is developing new community green space at 7th and West streets in West Center City.

Following a process of remediation, construction and landscaping, the 17,000-square-foot plot will open as a public green space. The project is set for completion in 2020.

WRC has purchased the nine parcels where the new greenspace will be built. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is helping fund the project site’s remediation.

“The project at 7th & West represents a commitment WRC has to continuing our mission in the neighborhood,” said Glenn Moore, WRC board chair. “The Creative District has already proved a successful project and with this new space, we are continuing our work and supporting Mayor Michael Purzycki’s West Center City initiative which seeks to stabilize and improve this long-neglected neighborhood.”

Once complete, the space will have at the center a multipurpose lawn area with a membership-based vegetable garden and activity area for low-intensity activities and programming.

“I am certainly looking forward to what this new space will bring to the West Center City neighborhood,” said Wilmington Mayor Michael Purzycki. “Projects like these not only help beautify our city, but are important for the revitalization of our great neighborhoods.”

WRC has engaged Duffield Associates to test and evaluate the soil and other environmental conditions of the lot. DNREC will monitor this process. After the evaluation, Duffield will manage the actual remediation process.

Two local firms have been contracted to design and build the new greenspace. Robinson Anderson Summers, of Wilmington, will be the landscape architects for the project, and Foresite Associates, of New Castle, will serve as the civil engineering firm.

“Community greenspaces provide much more than just neighborhood beautification ““ they are an opportunity for the community to gather and grow,” said Laura Semmelroth, Creative District strategist. “We are proud to have been able to work very closely with community leaders and neighborhood residents on the development of this space.”