Support the City’s Effort to Fund the Plan Before They Bulldoze the Land!
Mayor Purzycki, Wilmington City Council, Governor Carney and Secretary Garvin of DNREC
The City recently announced to the Rodney Reservoir Working Group that the Mayor had submitted a request for $2 million in state bond bill funding to build the resident-driven design for a new park at the Rodney Reservoir. The City also announced that they would do construction as part of demolition.
This is what we have been advocating for - for the City to fund the plan before they bulldoze the land! It is a huge step forward. The impossible becomes possible when we work together!
The City also recently told us they wanted to end the Rodney Reservoir Working Group. We need the Rodney Reservoir Working Group, which includes representatives from the city and community, to continue! The Rodney Reservoir Working Group has successfully coordinated the community park design process so far, and it should serve as a way for the community and City to collaborate during the construction phase so residents know what is being considered and have a chance to give input.
Sign the petition to ask Mayor Purzykci, Wilmington City Council, Governor Carney, and Secretary Garvin of DNREC to fund the plan to build the park, continue to engage the community during the construction phase through the Rodney Reservoir Advisory Group, and take steps to keep us safe during demolition.
Sponsored by
To:
Mayor Purzycki, Wilmington City Council, Governor Carney and Secretary Garvin of DNREC
From:
[Your Name]
I support community efforts to restore public access to the Rodney Reservoir and transform it into a safe, community- and nature-focused public park that residents of all ages and abilities can enjoy.
To build on the momentum that is coming from the design process, the City should pass an resolution right away confirming its public statements about the City’s plan to build a public park and implement the community’s design at the site. This resolution should outline a clear path forward so we can all work together to revitalize the Rodney Reservoir Park and restore public access.
DNREC should act immediately to require the City to attach an environmental deed restriction to the site to prevent future residential development. Testing shows unacceptable levels of contamination at the site for it to be developed into residential housing. If the City chooses not to clean up the contamination before starting demolition, DNREC needs to follow its own regulations and require the City of Wilmington to put a deed restriction on the land to ensure that it remains park space.
The City should hold off on demolition until funding is in place and it is ready to build the new park. This is the best way to make sure that some of the site’s existing features that local residents love can be part of the new design. Doing demolition as part of building the new park would also enable the City to save money and reduce the community’s exposure to hazardous substances, silica in dust, noise, and diesel fumes. Starting demolition only when it’s ready to build the new park would also ensure that the City doesn’t leave the Rodney Reservoir in limbo as an empty, graded lot.
To keep us safe from the release of contaminants into the air as dust and into our yards through water run-off during demolition:
- DNREC should require the City of Wilmington to test soil periodically and identify and carefully handle hazardous materials disturbed at the site during any site-work. We believe that DNREC should require a site-specific Contaminated Materials Management Plan (CMMP) to regulate these activities.
- The City of Wilmington and its contractors should implement and enforce an Air Monitoring plan that tests not only for particulate matter but also the hazardous chemicals identified as present at the site. Neighbors should have timely access to accurate monitoring results especially in the event of an incident.
It is in all our best interests for the City to move forward prioritizing good design, proper planning, environmental sustainability and resident engagement and for DNREC to hold the City to the highest regulatory standards to protect our health. Together we can create a unique and beautiful public green space that will benefit all residents of the City for current and future generations.