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A new park has been proposed for Wilmington’s Riverwalk, which would be located in front of the Embassy Suites in Downtown
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The group called Renaissance Wilmington Foundation is a nonprofit organization which plans and implements amenities and services to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors in the Wilmington North Carolina region
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The park would consist of a fountain that would span an area of 40 feet long by 17 feet wide
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Funding is not yet secured and the group is currently searching for sponsors and partners to help make the idea a reality
WILMINGTON — The City of Wilmington’s downtown and riverfront districts have seen a revitalization over the past several years that has garnered national recognition. That’s why the group called the Renaissance Wilmington Foundation has set its sights on enhancing areas along the Riverwalk.
President and CEO of Renaissance Wilmington Foundation Bill Graham has presented the Wilmington City Council with a plan to construct a new park along the Riverwalk, in front of the Embassy Suites.
The Renaissance Wilmington Foundation is “focused on the amenities and services that are required in the region, with a particular focus on downtown because that’s where the action is … We continue the kind of work that has been typified by Vision 2020, Cape Fear Future Commission, and more recently our own Waterfront Task Force,” Graham said.
The group consists of an all-volunteer staff, and has little overhead; currently, the group has received a few small grants from International Paper and CSX for past projects, he said.
Graham said that it typically takes a full generation to fully complete a Riverwalk, but he wants to challenge that idea.
“They (riverwalks) start out as fairly raw entities and over a period of time trees are added, flowers are added, they take on a much more human characteristic, so they are greatly improved over the passage of time. On the other hand, we argue that our riverwalk and riverwalk’s in general are greatly improved by immediate attention,” he said.
The plan for the new park, which is being called the Renaissance Park, would be located adjacent to the Embassy Suites, close to the convention center. The plans would call for the installation of a fountain, which would be the focal point of the park with a sizable footprint at 40 feet long and 17 feet wide. The land for the park is currently covered with debris and has a fence surrounding it.
The budget for the park is still under consideration according to Graham. That is until the group gets more direction from the city and other potential sponsors. Early estimates range from $300,000 to more than $1 million.
Of the $1.1 million cost estimate at the high end, more than $600,000 would be cost for the fountain construction, Howard Capps, president of Howard T Capps & Associates said.
Where money for the project will come from is still not known, as the group is looking for sponsors and partners to help pay for the project.
The park would also consist of pavers surrounding the fountain, park benches, landscaping to provide shade, and possibly some art or sculptures.
City Council members did not weigh in during the presentation. The next step in the process is for the group to meet with the city’s Technical Review Committee, where more direction will be given.
Michael Praats can be reached via email at [email protected]
