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Riverfront Development Corporation seeks $9.75 million for operations, park design and Riverfront East work
Summary
RDC Director Megan McGlinchey asked for $9.75 million to support operations, debt service, Riverwalk and Riverfront East infrastructure design, and to begin design for a new park on Parcel 1 of Justice and Landing; officials reported ongoing private investment and visitor activity on the Wilmington Riverfront.
Megan McGlinchey, director of the Riverfront Development Corporation (RDC), told the Joint Committee on Capital Improvement the RDC’s FY26 request totals $9,750,000 and covers operating support, real-estate debt service and maintenance, the Urban Wildlife Refuge (DuPont Environmental Education Center), Riverfront East preconstruction work and the design/construction planning for a proposed Justice and Landing park on Parcel 1.
Why it matters: RDC manages a riverfront district that hosts 3 million annual visitors, more than 4,000 workers and 2,100 residents; the authority said its projects generate state and city revenue and have attracted more than $1.2 billion in private investment since 1995.
Major items and recent activity
- Operating and Chase Center improvements. RDC requested operating funds for organizational staffing and operations of the Chase Center; recent work included modernizing the Chase ballroom restrooms and a client-driven assessment recommending further meeting-space modernization.
- Frawley Stadium and Blue Rocks updates. Off-season renovations included renovated restrooms, painted concourse ceilings and ADA upgrades to maintain Major League Baseball minor-league standards.
- Market and lighting projects. RDC has painted the Beach Market and French Street facades and will install LED lighting on the Market Street Bridge this spring to strengthen the riverfront–downtown connection. RDC also staged large seasonal light displays and drone shows over the Christina River, which RDC said increased restaurant and hotel visits during the holiday season.
- Riverfront East and Parcel 1. RDC described Riverfront East as an 86-acre mixed-use development divided into three areas. Current steps include demolition of vacant buildings, an archaeological investigation supervised by State Historic Preservation, environmental testing of certain parcels, utility relocations, bulkhead construction and an estimated import of about 170,000 cubic yards of soil to raise the site out of the floodplain.
- Justice and Landing park. RDC is initiating design for a park on the RDC-owned portion of Parcel 1 to pair with adjacent private residential development on the other portion of Parcel 1. Concept graphics shown to the committee included walkways, a bike lane and public gathering spaces.
Financial context
McGlinchey reported the state has invested about $530 million in riverfront projects since 1995 (with $140 million through direct RDC bond-bill appropriations), the city has invested $32 million and private investment exceeds $1.2 billion. She said the RDC-generated revenue to the state totals $682 million and $8.5 million annually to the city.
Committee questions and risks
Members asked about federal funding exposure (a RAISE grant to the city for roads and riverwalk work is in the pipeline) and construction-cost pressure risks; RDC said RAISE award determinations and federal approvals are still active and that contingency planning would be required if federal funds do not arrive.
Ending
McGlinchey said RDC will continue project planning and follow federal requirements for the Riverfront East environmental work and that construction of private-development projects on portions of Parcel 1 will proceed later this year; she thanked the committee for support and said RDC will return with details as projects advance.
