How Wilmington neighbors rallied to keep Rodney Reservoir a park − and succeeded

Amanda Fries, Delaware News Journal
·2 min read
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When Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki sought $1.7 million from the Delaware General Assembly last year to demolish the defunct Rodney Reservoir in the Cool Spring neighborhood, he told legislators the city envisioned housing on the nearly 4-acre site.

Neighbors quickly united, rallying last May against the possibility of turning Rodney Street Park into housing. Some were suspicious of the city’s claims that the water holding tanks buried on the site were “structurally unsound” and a “safety hazard,” but most didn’t oppose demolishing the underground holding tanks.

What they wanted was to keep the site a park.

Community opposition coupled with land use hurdles that city officials would have to overcome to rezone the park for residential housing prompted Wilmington to reverse course.

About 50 people gather outside Rodney Street Park on Thursday, May 12, 2022, concerned about Wilmington officials' plans to demolish the unused reservoir at the park and turn the property into residential housing. As part of Mayor Mike Purzycki's budget presentation to Wilmington City Council on March 16, 2023, the city mayor pledged to keep the park as green space.

During Purzycki’s recent budget presentation to the City Council, the mayor pledged to work with neighbors of the park to demolish the reservoir and return the site to a community park.

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Why did the city change course?

The mayor said the Rodney Reservoir is zoned “open space,” and any housing development on the site would require a Superior Court judge to vacate the public park use dedication so that the city’s planning commission and City Council could rezone the park for residential use.

“These are significant hurdles to any change in land use,” Purzycki said. “It should be noted, however, that the impetus for demolishing the structure is primarily one of public safety, not to mention that the reservoir property serves no public purpose except the small portion which is used for garden plots.”

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Wilmington ultimately received its $1.7 million ask during last year’s state budget, setting the stage for demolishing the holding tanks. The money was part of a slew of city projects Purzycki sought state funding for last year.

A month after dozens of Cool Spring residents rallied at the park, Purzycki quelled their fears.

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West Ninth Street resident James Stiner said in a June 19 email to Delaware Online/The News Journal that Puzycki had met with residents and agreed that the reservoir should remain green space.

“Our view is that demolishing the reservoir in favor of public green space as we plan for future uses is an appropriate path forward,” Purzycki told Delaware Online. “Before any demolition takes place, however, we plan to engage further with the neighborhood.”

What other development projects is the mayor eyeing?

Other development projects Purzycki touted during his budget address included:

  • Launching the next phase of Rodney Square revitalization.

  • Rehabilitating city firehouses.

Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @mandy_fries.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: How Wilmington neighbors rallied to keep a defunct reservoir a park