City council to consider accepting $500,000 grant for Greenfield Park bridge replacement

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington leaders are preparing to move forward with plans to replace Lions Bridge in Greenfield Park after receiving a  state grant award to support the project.

Wilmington City Council members are expected to consider a resolution Tuesday night that would authorize the city manager to accept the $500,000 award for the replacement the bridge.

According to agenda documents, the proposed resolution would allow the city to formally accept a Great Trails State grant administered through the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

If approved, the grant funding would support the design and reconstruction of Lions Bridge, while the city would provide a required local match of $592,110 through its Capital Improvements Infrastructure Plan.

Greenfield Park, a 250-acre park located about a mile from downtown Wilmington, includes the 90-acre Greenfield Lake, trails, playgrounds, gardens and the Hugh Morton Amphitheater. The park was established in 1925 and has been designated a local historic landmark.

City documents state Lions Bridge was identified as a safety concern and later demolished in 2025. The bridge had been the only structure crossing the lake, providing access to trails, gardens and other park amenities.

Previous planning documents stated the replacement bridge would be ADA-compliant and larger than the original structure.