Wells Fargo Foundation Supports Greenspaces in Southbridge
Southbridge is a small, strong community in Southern Wilmington, Delaware with a rich history of civic activism, anchored by the Southbridge Civic Association and the Southbridge Community Development Corporation. This historically Black community is on the frontlines of industrial air pollution and rising seas, as well as riverfront development which is seriously impacting the neighborhood’s demographics and economics. With generous funding from the Wells Fargo Foundation, Clean Air Council worked to expand greenspace access in Southbridge, specifically advocating for the proper remediation and redevelopment of Barbara Hicks Park, which was found to be contaminated with dangerous heavy metals in 2022. In 2023, the Council helped Southbridge organizations and residents submit official public comments on the park’s remediation and redevelopment, but realized this was a more long-term effort. The Council worked with the Wells Fargo Foundation to secure funding for community outreach and greenspace enhancements, taking effect at the beginning of 2024.
Throughout 2024 and 2025, Council staff regularly appeared at Southbridge Civic Association meetings, discussing ways to improve the park’s redevelopment and raise awareness of its contamination. Council staff also helped neighbors engage with the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Wilmington Riverfront Transportation Infrastructure Project to make sure that all areas of South Wilmington saw significant local investments. Council staff provided a sample public comment that was submitted by several local residents and organizations. The FHWA responded to the Council’s comment about flooding and soil health in the area saying, “two feet of clean fill cap will be used to prevent contaminated soil erosion and human contact.” This statement would later be used by local leaders in a meeting with the City of Wilmington in Fall 2025, leading to a more protective cleanup of Barbara Hicks Park. The City’s original plan for the park was uncertain and did not commit to any firm plans for soil removal or the placement of clean soil but, after this meeting, it committed to the removal of two feet of contaminated soil and the placement of two feet of clean soil. Wilmington also expanded Hicks Park, eliminated mosquito-ridden standing water, and committed to adding new amenities, like exercise and playground equipment, which local organizations had been advocating for since at least 2017.
Funding from the Wells Fargo Foundation additionally supported Southbridge Day in August 2024, turning Elbert Playground into an adventurescape complete with moonbounces, a dunk tank, an ice cream truck, face painting and a photo booth. Wells Fargo Foundation funding also supported the distribution of hundreds of book bags to local young people, additionally supporting local retailer Carry My Own Weight. Southbridge Day 2024 was a beautiful celebration of what could be possible with safe local greenspaces, leading to increased communications with the City of Wilmington and firm plans to remediate and renovate Hicks Park. Council also used project funding to support the Delaware Nature Society’s native planting at Mille Cannon Park.
Council staff also worked to support the Southbridge Community Garden, a greenspace in the center of Southbridge where owner Wayne Marshall grows vegetables to distribute locally. Funding from the Wells Fargo Foundation helped Wayne fix his fence to prevent a neighboring dog from scaring local kids visiting the garden. Funding also helped Wayne create an outdoor kitchen and construct a pavilion with the help of a local Black-owned construction company. This project’s funding helped Wayne acquire a leaf blower and a pole saw to help maintain the garden and keep his neighborhood clean, as well as an electric generator to bring power to the garden.
We celebrated the conclusion of this project in November 2025, when peppers were still growing in the Southbridge Community Garden! Watch the short videos below:
