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75th Anniversary Revitalization Projects

In honor of Ardencroft’s 75th anniversary in 2025, and our pioneering role in desegregating North Wilmington and Delaware’s school system, the Ardencroft 75th Anniversary Revitalization Initiative will enhance the economic, cultural, and recreational health of our Village. This milestone initiative includes several capital projects aimed at making bicycle and pedestrian travel safer, increasing accessibility, and improving community facilities.

Key Projects Include:

  • Commemorative Sign for Pauline A. Young – Installation of a commemorative sign at Pauline A. Young Park, renamed to honor this revered former resident. Pauline Young’s choice to call Ardencroft home underscores the Village’s historic efforts to desegregate Northern Delaware and celebrates her contributions as a community leader.
  • Modern, Inclusive Swing Structure – Replacement of the decades-old swing set with a safe, modern structure featuring ADA-accessible swings and mulch surfacing to meet current safety standards. The new design ensures safe play for children of all physical abilities.
  • Enhanced Community Bulletin Board – Upgrades to our Village bulletin board to protect community flyers from wind and weather. Improvements include replacing the pushpin backing and adding a durable cover.
  • ADA-Accessible Picnic Areas – Creation of ADA-compliant picnic spaces in both Village parks, including curb ramps and hard-surface patios to make picnic tables accessible for everyone.
  • Park Trash Corrals – Installation of trash corrals to house public trash and recycling cans provided by our new waste services vendor. These additions will support park users and dog walkers while keeping our parks clean.
  • Curtis Bridge Safety Upgrades – Strengthening railings and resurfacing the Curtis Bridge footbridge to reduce slipping hazards. This bridge is a critical link in the designated bicycle and pedestrian path outlined in the Connecting with the Ardens Transportation Plan.
  • Rocky Walk Footbridge Replacement – Replacement of the rotted footbridge on the Rocky Walk trail. The structure has deteriorated beyond repair, necessitating a complete rebuild.
  • Sanctuary Path Stair Handrail Repairs – Replacement of rotted and damaged handrails along the 52-step Sanctuary Path staircase, ensuring safe access to our scenic forest trails.
  • New Village Gateway Signs – Designed with the Village’s new logo, these signs will greet visitors entering Ardencroft on Harvey Road (near Wilmington Montessori School) and Veale Road (near St. Edmond’s Academy). They complement planned speed limit reductions to 25 mph and traffic-calming measures from the Ardens Transportation Plan.

The projects reflect Ardencroft’s enduring values of inclusivity, accessibility, environmental stewardship, and community development. They are funded through a combination of municipal resources (including ARPA and general budget funds), a Delaware DNREC Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and Trails (ORPT) grant, and additional sources.

Explore a slideshow of existing conditions, designs, and concepts for more details about these exciting projects with the following links: