Project was a resident-driven community development process, in partnership with local government and partnership funders

 The new Cool Spring Playground at North Van Buren and West 10^th Streets.

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and Director of Parks and Recreation Ian Smith today joined with West Side Grows Together, Friends of Cool Spring Group (FOCSP), City and State officials, students and staff from Lewis Elementary School, and local residents for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of renovations to the Cool Spring Park Playground. Located at North Van Buren and West 10^th Streets, this new state-of-the-art playground is the latest in a series of park renovations on the City’s West Side.
 
With support from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and the City, the FOCSP hired landscape architects in 2017 to empower residents and develop a community-led playground design to replace equipment that was dilapidated and outdated. Moreover, stormwater management issues rendered the park unusable after a heavy rainfall. The green stormwater management portion was completed in the summer of 2020, and the playground project was completed last fall.  Designed for people of all ages and abilities, the refurbished playground includes a fitness area for adults, handicap accessible equipment, swings, slides, and an explorer dome.
 
“I continue to be impressed and encouraged by the outpouring of support and participation by the community for projects like this one,” said Mayor Purzycki. “The need for upgrades to this park’s stormwater management system and playground equipment goes back decades, but through a lot of hard work, persistence, and cooperation among numerous partners and stakeholders, the end result is a spectacular new open space that will further strengthen the surrounding neighborhoods and improve the lives of residents – not least of which those of the hundreds of elementary school students who use this playground for outdoor recess throughout the school year. This new playground is just one more example of what can be achieved when communities and government work together to address a pressing need.” 

Today’s ceremony included remarks by Mayor Purzycki, Director of Parks and Recreation Ian R. Smith, the President of West Side Grows Together and CEO of Cornerstone West, Sarah Lester, Cool Spring community leader Clara Zahradnik, State Senator Elizabeth Lockman, and some of the children who are enjoying the new park. Those in attendance included City Council Members Bregetta Fields and James Spadola. The ceremony also recognized the efforts of former City Council Member and current State Representative Charles “Bud” Freel to bring this project to fruition.

The Cool Spring playground serves hundreds of students from Lewis Dual Elementary School and families in the surrounding neighborhoods each day. The renovation was made possible with the support of the City of Wilmington, the Cool Spring Tilton Neighborhood Association, New Castle County, Longwood Foundation, Inc., the Welfare Foundation, The Chemours Company, the Delaware Community Foundation, Red Clay School District, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), and individual donors.

 Mayor Purzycki helps celebrate the opening of the new Cool Spring Playground on Thursday.

 Sarah Lester of West Side Grows Together is joined by Lewis Elementary students at Cool Spring Playground.

Mayor Purzycki and Director Smith prepare to open the Cool Spring Playground with the help of some schoolchildren.

William C. Lewis Dual Language Elementary School students enjoy recess at the new playground. 

The new Cool Spring Playground is a hit with the kids!

COMMUNITY AND MEDIA INQUIRIES: 

John Rago
Deputy Chief of Staff
City of Wilmington, Office of the Mayor
Mobile: (302) 420-7928
Email: jrago@WilmingtonDE.gov

Britt Salen
Cornerstone West CDC
Phone: (302) 888-5335
Email: bsalen@westsidegrows.org