Nearly $3 million in federal funding is coming to the City of Wilmington to help mitigate flooding in its Southbridge neighborhood.
The federal grant will go to the South Wilmington Wetlands Project. The park, along with a planned sewer separation project, aims to decrease chronic flooding in Southbridge while providing wildlife habitat and open space.
According to City officials, the grant is the largest of 35 recently awarded nation-wide by the National Coastal Resilience Fund.
In a statement, Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki thanked Delaware’s Congressional delegation for helping secure the funding.
Southbridge residents have faced chronic flooding for decades. According to residents, floods have caused property damage and occasional displacement. The neighborhood also undergoes routine mosquito spraying.
And the risk of flooding in Southbridge is expected to increase as sea levels rise.
The planned wetland park has been in the works since 2010. It is scheduled to begin construction this spring.
It and the accomplaying sewer separation project and will also be financed with bonds issued by Wilmington City Council.
