Downtown Wilmington pop-up park to open Friday at former City Hall site

The park is located at 305 Chestnut St., the former site of Wilmington City Hall. City leaders received an early look at the project during a presentation to the Wilmington City Council on Monday, May 18th.

Deputy City Manager Mary Vigue showed council members aerial images of the previously vacant lot before unveiling updated views of the transformed space.

Video from the site showed crews putting the finishing touches on the park, including newly planted trees, colorful lighting wrapped around landscaping, stone features, and new fencing.

While city officials highlighted the park’s role as a temporary community space, some council members questioned the property’s future and the ongoing efforts to bring a grocery store closer to downtown residents.

“Grocery store was going to go here, right? That was the plan,” Councilmember Cassidy Santaguida said during the meeting. “Do we have an update on where we might be able to locate a grocery store somewhere in the food desert near downtown?”

City Manager Becky Hawke stated that the city is still exploring options for a grocery store at alternative locations.

“We are continuing to work with some interested parties on some other parcels,” Hawke said. “So this parcel, along with all the city-owned parcels, are all going to be looked at. This, in no way, inhibits the ability to develop the site at a future date for whatever the city ultimately decides it should be.”

The park is expected to remain open through September.

Vigue also told council members the city is exploring a partnership with Thalian Hall to host an outdoor movie series at the site.

The space will also include temporary art installations throughout the park.

The park’s official grand opening celebration is scheduled for Friday at 11 a.m.