South Wilmington Wetlands Park
The Southbridge Wilmington Wetlands Park is a transformative flood mitigation and stormwater management project. The Park helps prevent flooding in the nearby Southbridge neighborhood, restores a damaged wetland, and reduces pollution flowing into the Christina River. It also treats stormwater naturally, cuts down on pesky mosquitoes, and offers a beautiful boardwalk for the community to enjoy. Additionally, it serves as a pathway to the shopping center on the west side of South Wilmington.
Construction on the South Wilmington Wetlands Park started on June 3, 2019 and was completed August 2022.
Key Milestones
Key milestones of the project include:
- Removal and disposal of 155,000 cubic yards of unusable soil and 17,000 tons of PCB and Metals contaminated soils
- Shaping of wetlands and drainage channels to increase stormwater storage capacity
- Construction of a 0.3-mile at-grade stone trail and an elevated boardwalk with wire mesh and cedar handrail, connecting Southbridge to shopping and amenities along S Walnut Street
- Installation of 450 feet of concrete drainage pipe along with associated manholes, inlets, and headwalls
- Installation of a drainage vault and multiple tide gates at 800 A Street to manage stormwater outfall to the Christina River
- Construction of a stone drainage channel with a gabion basket retaining wall
- Implementation of a state-of-the-art tide valve structure with a 48" pinch valve and 48" plug valve, connected to an automated control system located at 322 A Street for optimized tidal inundation
- Planting of 113,000 Emergent Marsh Plants, 1,700 Native Shrubs, and 800 Native Trees
- Creation of two stamped concrete gateway park entrances and paved parking areas
News Articles
- Delaware Public Media, by Sophia Schmidt, September 20, 2019 - As sea levels rise, a Wilmington neighborhood deals first with current flooding
- CBS NEWS, September 17, 2019 - Storm-resistant parks are helping cities defend themselves against flooding
The construction of this project was made possible through a collaborative partnership that spanned the project's duration. We extend our gratitude to the following individuals and organizations for their invaluable work and support:
Project Overview
The purpose of the South Wilmington Wetlands Park is to create a stormwater management facility, restore and enhance existing wetlands, and create a new park for the community. The video above shows how the project will reduce flooding during a typical rain event. This site was identified by the Southbridge community as an ideal location for a wetlands park in 2006. Since then, the City of Wilmington has been working with other agencies, non-profits, and the Southbridge community to develop a park that incorporates community feedback to address ongoing issues of flooding and contamination.
In 2006, a Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) was completed incorporating the feedback of residents of Southbridge, in partnership with the City of Wilmington, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), the Wilmington Area Planning Council, and Wilmington Housing Authority. The plan envisioned taking "a checkerboard of historic homes, public housing, waterfront luxury housing and mixed-use sites, brownfields, bisecting corridors, floodplains and wetlands, and create a single neighborhood rich in heritage, racial and social diversity, superior ecology and shared community amenities, including a substantial new park at the heart of the neighborhood." This idea for a central wetlands and stormwater management park came from the community.
Project Team
In 2008, the City formally adopted the recommendations of the SAMP in the South Walnut Street Urban Renewal Plan. The project team that works on the South Wilmington Wetlands Project was formed in 2010. This team meets every two weeks to advance the project. The team is comprised of individuals representing:
- City Department of Public Works
- City Office of Economic Development
- City Department of Planning and Development
- City Law Department
- Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Controls (DNREC)
- The Nature Conservancy
Consulting Services
Consulting services are provided by:
Resources
- Oasis Design Group and RK&K Win Award for Urban Wetlands Park Master Plan (PDF) - Oasis Design Group press release, May 25, 2016
- Wetlands Project Update (PDF) - Presented at the Soutbridge Civic Association meeting, December 20, 2016
Funding
On November 19, 2018, Mayor Purzycki announced the receipt of a $2.9 million federal grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support the construction of the South Wilmington Wetland Project. Read the news release for additional information.
The primary goal of the South Wilmington Wetland Park is to reduce flooding in the Southbridge neighborhood. In addition to building the Wetland Park, the City will be separating 36 acres of Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) pipes into stormwater and sewer pipes. When it rains, water will flow through the new stormwater pipes and into the restored wetlands, where it will be held and gradually released into the Christina River. The sewer pipes will go directly to the City's wastewater treatment plant.
Resources
- South Wilmington Drainage Study (PDF)
- September 23, 2015 - Southbridge Initiative Flood Control Better Access
- October 23, 2014 - Plagued by Chronic Flooding Southbridge Neighborhood Hangs Hopes on Old School Fix
- November 8, 2013 - White House Officials Visit Wetlands Project in Wilmington
The separation of the CSO in conjunction with the Wetland will directly benefit over 1,000 residents of Wilmington's Historic Southbridge Neighborhood by reducing flooding frequency in addition to increasing available storm capacity.
The South Wilmington Wetlands Park will provide flood relief to Wilmington's historic Southbridge neighborhood and clean up one of the largest brownfields in the City. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a brownfield is a property that may have hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants present. Building the Wetlands Park will require the removal of contaminated soil which was dumped into the marsh over the past hundred years. BrightFields, Inc. Environmental Services is working with the City to ensure that the park will be safe for people to enjoy and a place where fish, birds, and wildlife can safely live.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Site Investigation and Restoration Section and the Division of Water Resources have worked closely with BrightFields, the City of Wilmington, and the rest of the design team to develop a remediation plan for the site that is innovative, protective, cost effective, and consistent with site redevelopment plans. DNREC has also provided environmental funding through the Brownfield Grant Program.
Read the Feasibility Study (PDF).
The South Wilmington Wetlands Park requires that we control existing invasive species and introduce new native plant communities in order to create a healthy, functioning ecosystem. Areas of the park include emergent wetland marsh, shrub meadow, upland meadow, evergreen forest, upland forest, and forested swamp as shown in the Ecotype Circulation Diagram. Each of these areas will be home to unique types of plants that you can learn more about by looking at the Wetland Ecotype Details document.
These native plant species will help keep the Wetland Park healthy by improving the flow of water, increasing the amount of wildlife habitat, and making the Park more attractive to visitors. Water will come into the Wetland from the Christina River at high tide, and flow back out at low tide. This tidal exchange means that fish will live in the tidal channels and deep water pools in the Park. These fish will help control the local mosquito population.