Community, county and state collaborate to create recreational hub for underserved community
Edgemoor Gardens, DE – Today, County Executive Matthew Meyer, County Councilman John Cartier, DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin, members of the General Assembly, civic and community leaders and local residents gathered to break ground on the Edgemoor Gardens Park, the first new County park to be established in more than a decade. When construction is completed this fall, this one-acre neighborhood park will feature a basketball court, playground and paved perimeter walking trail.
“Parks provide critically important safe places for kids to play and gathering places for residents of all ages, and they improve quality of life for entire communities,” said County Executive Matt Meyer. “I am proud that the first new County park in 15 years is becoming a reality, thanks to our collaboration with the Edgemoor community and strong support from the State of Delaware.”
For the past year, New Castle County has actively engaged the surrounding community in planning for the park to ensure that its amenities meet community needs. Edgemoor is an area long recognized as being underserved by an accessible neighborhood park with recreational amenities.
“It takes a village to rebuild a village, and that’s what we’re doing here in Edgemoor Gardens,” said County Councilman John Cartier. “We have worked together over many years with partners in this community, from the Civic Association, the Edgemoor Revitalization Cooperative, the local faith community and many others, to build a bright future for this community, and today’s groundbreaking is an important milestone on that path forward.”
The Edgemoor Gardens Park has been made possible through a collaboration between New Castle County, which will construct and operate the park, the Edgemoor Civic Association, which donated the land and construction funding support from DNREC through the Delaware Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Trails Program.
“DNREC is pleased to be a part of this project, in partnership with New Castle County, by providing $100,000 in funding to help make significant improvements to Edgemoor Gardens Park,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “This grant, and funds provided by New Castle County, will expand the recreational opportunities for the people who live in and around this community.”
The Edgemoor Gardens Park reflects a broader commitment to support neighborhood revitalization. New Castle County investments in the community also include funding and staff support for Edgemoor Grows Together, a community-initiated program that provides enrichment activities for area youth, sponsorship of a neighborhood summer camp and year-round recreation programs in partnership with the Edgemoor Revitalization Cooperative (ERC), a New Castle County Police Community Engagement team assigned to the community, summer youth employment opportunities for local residents, support for local housing initiatives and more.
“It has been almost two decades since Edgemoor Gardens has had a playground in any of its open spaces,” said Edgemoor Gardens Civic Association President Michelle Lamonica-Rouse. “In this very location, I once played for hours with my friends and neighbors on the swings, and now, we will get to see our kids and grandkids playing here with their friends and neighbors. We appreciate the county’s support of our efforts to make Edgemoor Gardens a more safe and inviting place.”
Learn more about New Castle County Parks at www.nccde.org/parks.
A photo from today’s groundbreaking is attached. Pictured holding shovels, from left to right: Michelle Lamonica-Rouse, President, Edgemoor Gardens Civic Association; Matthew Meyer, New Castle County Executive; Shawn M. Garvin, DNREC Secretary; John Cartier, County Councilman
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Contact: Jason Miller, Director of Communications, 302-545-1462