Construction has begun on the City of Wilmington’s $6.3 million renovation of Riverfront Park and Water Street, along the downtown riverfront.

The city is partnering with the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority and the U.S. Coast Guard in the overhaul, which will take place in multiple phases. Large-scale infrastructure repairs are underway with street-level enhancements on tap.

The purpose of the underground work is twofold: to ensure public safety and to allow for future growth.

Among the scheduled updates are repairs to the bulkhead located at the intersection of Market and Water streets, plus the addition of new water and sewer lines.

“Repairing the bulkhead will once again stabilize Water Street and Riverfront Park for the uses which they are intended, for example, once again allowing crowds to gather along the water’s edge for special events such as concerts and fireworks,” explained Dylan Lee, city spokesman. “Secondly, the upgrades to the water and sewer system will serve future demands from commercial uses in the area.”

This first phase of the project will take about a year to complete. The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority will install the water and sewer lines in front of the Federal courthouse, beneath Water Street, while stormwater replacement work will take place at the intersection of Princess and Water streets.

Meanwhile, Riverfront Park – which often sees crowds of residents and visitors, alike – will also get a makeover. City officials said that a facelift of the downtown focal point is long overdue.

“The overall plan for the Riverfront Park improvements updates this showcase area of our city, which has not been upgraded for decades,” Lee said, adding that the details were approved by the city council following public input. “The plaza at the foot of Market Street will be more consistent with the historical look
of the area.”

Amenities, including improved lighting, landscaping and wheelchair access, will round out the park’s update, along with streetscaping between the Federal courthouse and Princess Street. While the enhancements follow the Riverfront Park master plan and Vision 2020 downtown plan, adopted by city council, they’ll also provide visitors with a better experience.

“Pedestrian navigation in this area has been complicated by various levels and steps required to traverse the area, as well as a really narrow sidewalk,” Lee said. “The ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] access and overall streetscape plan will provide for less steps and grade changes in the park.”

The streetscape portion of the project will also widen the sidewalk in the area. Doing so will help alleviate pedestrian congestion that’s common during outdoor events such as Riverfest and  the N.C. Azalea Festival.

As for this year’s Riverfest, which was postponed from early October due to heavy rains and flooding to Nov. 20-22, the area around North Water and Market streets will remain open to foot traffic only, as it does annually during the event. Riverfront Park, however, in that same block will be closed during the annual event due to weight limits.

Meanwhile, the latter part of the renovation’s initial phase will involve work by the Coast Guard. Through separate funding, the Coast Guard will repair the bulkhead near the Coast Guard Cutter Diligence ship, spanning the approximate area between the Federal courthouse and Chestnut Street.

A second phase of the project will follow, with more water and sewer lines to be installed beneath Water Street, this time between Princess and Walnut streets. Afterwards, the street section will receive cosmetic updates, followed by plans for the CFPUA to rebuild its Walnut Street sewer pump station.