In this week’s e-Newsletter, learn about hazardous substances the City has discovered at the Rodney Reservoir and why the City’s demolition plan could put our health at risk; a CALL TO ACTION asking DNREC to require the City to clean up contamination before starting demolition and help us build a park; a community meeting with DNREC officials on Monday, Dec. 4 where we can voice our concerns; as well as updates on community park design efforts.
WHO WE ARE: Green for the Greater Good is a group of neighbors working to keep the Rodney Reservoir safe, public and green so all residents can enjoy its use. Now is the time to get involved - your voice is needed to ensure our community’s health is protected and make sure the Rodney Reservoir becomes a park.
1. HEALTH RISKS OF DEMOLITION
The City of Wilmington has discovered hazardous chemicals including mercury, cobalt, and benzo(a)pyrene in the soils of the Rodney Reservoir. According to the report on soil testing the City published in October, “The results indicate that:
Regulated substances in shallow soil pose an unacceptable cancer risk under the resident scenario.
Regulated substances in shallow and combined soil pose an unacceptable non-cancer risk under the resident child HI scenario.” Learn more here.
Yet DNREC approved the City’s plan to demolish the Rodney Reservoir starting in January without cleaning up the contamination. This could put our health at risk because the hazardous chemicals that are currently bound up in the soil could be released in dust or water-run off during demolition.
2. TAKE ACTION: ASK GOVERNOR CARNEY TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH & HELP US BUILD A PARK
TAKE ACTION to send a letter to Governor Carney and DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin asking DNREC to require the City to follow Delaware’s Hazardous Substances Cleanup Act and related regulations to protect our health by cleaning up hazardous substances before starting demolition.
Ask Governor Carney to do everything he can to encourage the City to work with the community to create a park design that minimizes the potential for the community’s exposure to hazardous substances and builds on historical and topographical features of the site before demolition begins.
3. LEARN MORE: COMMUNITY MEETING WITH DNREC Monday, 12/4 @ 7PM
On Monday, December 4 at 7 PM, DNREC officials will discuss soil testing results and answer questions from the public. This meeting is an important chance for our community to ask DNREC - the state’s version of the EPA - to do more to protect our health. All are invited.
When: Monday, December 4 at 7 PM
Where: St. Anthony of Padua Grade School, 1715 W 9th Street in Wilmington, in the digital library on the upper floor.
4. UPDATES ON COMMUNITY DESIGN
Community Design Charrette Follow-Up
Green for the Greater Good continues to grow a partnership between this community and the University of Delaware to create a design for a future Rodney Reservoir Park. Students of a Landscape Architecture Urban Design Studio course led by Professor Anna Wik have been working all fall to develop creative designs that build on what community members said was important to them at the Charrette in June, which included more than 80 residents and other stakeholders. Read more about this exciting work on our website!
City of Wilmington Rodney Reservoir Working Group
Some volunteers with Green for the Greater Good were invited to serve on the City of Wilmington’s Rodney Reservoir Working Group, which includes residents and representatives of City departments. The Working Group chose Hinge Collective, a firm based in Philadelphia, to engage the community in developing a preliminary park design and budget. Stay tuned for dates in early December to take part in community engagement activities related to this process.
GET MORE INVOLVED
We need to work together to make sure our health is protected and the city works with us on the future of the Rodney Reservoir! Here are some more ways you can help:
Share posts on your own social media.
Visit the website for the latest news.
Join weekly Saturday meetings at 10 AM at the Church of The Holy City at 1118 N. Broom Street. Enter to the right of the main door and enter through the side door.
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