WILMINGTON — This week Wilmington City Council got an updated look at plans for the North Waterfront Park, which included eliminating and scaling back nearly $10 million worth of features to stay under budget. While not everyone was pleased, one particular reduction could make the park the latest venue for food trucks.
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The presentation juxtaposed the “aspirational park” – featuring many of the higher-end options council and city staff had expressed interest in – with the “essential park”- featuring those elements that were necessary to meet basic expectations (and requirements from Live Nation, which will operate the park’s music venue).
The proposed compromise between the two could be the city’s “signature park” – in other words, the park that actually gets built.
One major reduction, and the second largest compromise overall, would scale back the “park support building,” saving $1,598,737. Part of that reduction means scrapping plans for a “cooking kitchen” and replacing it with a “catering kitchen.”
What does that mean?
According to an email from Amy Beatty, Wilmington’s community service director, to Mary Lydecker of Hargreaves Jones, the city’s design partner, it means an overhaul of the planned concession options at the park.
“If we scale back from the full kitchen with [ventilation] hood and points of sale as originally envisioned, the highest and best use from the City’s perspective would be a holding kitchen which would be programmed for storage, a sink, refrigerators, a prep table, holding/proofing cabinets and countertop warmers,” Beatty wrote.
But, since the city had identified food and beverage services as essential features, the city will need another food option.
“This would mean that the City would have to rely on food carts and trucks when the park is in park mode,” Beatty wrote, referring to when the park was not actively hosting a Live Nation or other event.
According to City Spokesperson Malissa Talbert, no decisions have been made yet by City Council.
“Nothing has been decided yet, they are going to reconvene at the first of the year to take stock and determine next steps and what might need to be removed or included in a phase II. So, we just don’t know yet,” Talbert said.
Send comments and tips to Benjamin Schachtman at ben@localvoicemedia.com, @pcdben on Twitter, and (910) 538-2001.
