Southbridge community comes together to rebuild popular hangout spot for people and nature
The intersection of A Street and New Castle Avenue in the Southbridge neighborhood of Wilmington is noisy, dusty and busy. The crossroad is a hub of activity from a liquor store, a convenience store, a high volume of industrial and commercial traffic and a firehouse.
Amidst the bustle at this intersection, some residents found a sanctuary — a place they go to sit, connect with neighbors and relax with friends. Nestled on the corner, next to the fire station, is Winston Truitt Park.
The city-owned site was created with the intention of providing a retreat and enhancing the area's beauty. Truitt Park once boasted benches, shrubbery and shade-providing trees. However, the park has since deteriorated. Over time, the benches have disappeared, and the previously vibrant flower beds now only contain old mulch. Underneath the trees, the ground has turned to bare dirt. Despite its modest size and lack of amenities, the park remains a beloved spot for residents to gather and unwind.
When a neighborhood fixture at the park of the community died, some residents of Southbridge were inspired to honor her memory by enhancing their cherished park. In collaboration with nonprofits, small businesses, and the city, these residents plan to install a pollinator garden, a grill and checkers and chess tables.
Last week, on a warm October day, community members and supporters met at Truitt Park to begin the work ahead with a cookout to follow.
Renaming the Truitt Park to Vickie Portis Park
Thomas Jackson grew up in Southbridge. He now owns two businesses, Big Tom's Tavern and Carry My Own Weight, located on either side of the park. But, Jackson said, no matter where life takes him, Southbridge will always be home. He is one of the organizers from the community to restore Truitt Park.
Reflecting on his childhood, the 34-year-old said he watched older people gathered at Truitt Park enjoying the park as if it were their second home. He said wants to see people continue doing so. Vickie Portis is one person in particular he recalled who really enjoyed being there.
According to Jackson, Truitt Park was Portis' favorite place to spend time every day. "She was like a pillar here. This was her area," Jackson said.
The Southbridge resident treated the space like her own living room, Jackson said. She would often be seen sweeping and cleaning up the park. He said she would be out there now if she still were living. Portis died in January 2023.
Along with the grill, checkers and chess tables, Jackson intends to add flowers to make the space more beautiful and inviting for everyone. And to honor Portis, he said he wants to see the park renamed for her.
Generous support for Southbridge
As the owner of three businesses and a contractor for the city of Wilmington, Darone Davis said he is thriving. He said it was a different story when he was growing up in New Jersey. Davis said he is familiar with neighborhoods like Southbridge, and now that he is doing well he wanted to be a part of the effort to improve a neighborhood where people don't "put a lot of love into." He donated the food for the cookout.
Davis emphasized that making certain improvements requires a collective effort. “It costs money. And some communities don't have money for those things,” Davis said. He said it will take those who have the ability to contribute and support others in need.
The City of Wilmington's Parks and Recreation and the Delaware Nature Society are contributing to the project. Parks and Recreation employees worked to install a grill. A new sign and park benches will be added later. A few native ferns were planted that day with plans to add a variety of native plants and flowers to create the pollinator garden. The plantings at Truitt Park are just the beginning of a wider community effort to restore an ecosystem.
According to Kerry Lawson, Habitat Outreach Manager for The Delaware Nature Society, the organization is tapping the nearly $400,000 in funds it has to employ the initiative.
Lawson said beyond the park, they'll work to reconstruct a pollinator corridor. Plantings will also be carried out at individual homes and in areas identified by the community as suitable for pollinator gardens. Additionally, the organization is working with Habitat for Humanity to establish a sustainable food network.
The project's completion timeline hinges on the installation of a new sign and park benches, as well as the availability of native plants.
Contact reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com. Join her on the Facebook group Delaware Voices Uplifted. Support her work and become a subscriber.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Community works to restore park in Wilmington for people and nature
