It was while living across from New Castle’s Surratte Park in the 1980s that Sandra Smithers became involved in environmental justice. Maintenance contractors had a habit of mishandling litter as they cut the grass, leaving behind a confetti of trash. When Smithers faced conveying her concerns to New Castle County leaders, she bought a video camera and sent a recording as proof.
Today, Smithers continues to champion her community as executive director of the Route 9 Community Development Corporation (CDC). Formerly known as New Castle Prevention Coalition, the organization aims to revitalize a dozen communities within New Castle County’s 19720 ZIP code.
“When we look at social determinants of health, we look at the trauma in our community and we realize that the environment impacts the way kids learn, it impacts disease and respiratory conditions, and it impacts housing and the conditions that we live in,” Smithers said.
We want to leave a legacy, because this is a community where people purchase homes not as an investment but as a homestead.
sandra smithers, route 9 cdc
Last July, the Route 9 CDC received $3 million from the Bezos Earth Fund to restore eight neighborhood-based parks spanning 300 acres in the Route 9 Community. The Delaware Community Foundation also received funding from the Earth Fund to support and coordinate the environmental justice programs covered by the grants in the state. The Route 9 urban greening initiative aims to enhance community gardens by expanding the available tree canopy for reduced heat and pollution, and improve recreational nature trails with safety lighting.
Healthy Communities Delaware, which has supported the Route 9 CDC action plan since 2020, recognizes a thriving natural world among its Vital Conditions for Health & Well-Being, and this past spring convened an Equity Action Summit to empower communities through environmental justice and inclusive sustainability.
The Route 9 parks project, happening at the direction of the Route 9 CDC, is a prime example of environmental justice, as it will address legacy economic disparities, encourage workforce development and create opportunities for youth involvement. The corridor is historically notable for being the location of Dunleith, the first housing development in the 1950s marketed to African Americans in Delaware, and where World War II veterans, along with blue-collar workers and educators, became homeowners.
In recent years, various community challenges have emerged. The area has been heavily impacted by gentrification, exacerbated by factors like reverse mortgages and the fallout from the 2008 housing crisis, Smithers said. Substance use issues and mental health concerns have also plagued the community. Meanwhile, environmental justice remains a major concern due to industrial pollution from nearby chemical manufacturers, landfills and the Port of Wilmington.
Through their partnership with the Bezos Earth Fund, the Route 9 CDC has been able to address long-standing greenspace issues, such as overgrown easements, and established a mile-long walking trail connecting three parks along the corridor. Such efforts have created employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals by establishing an occupational pipeline by way of beautification and safety enhancements. The Alternative to Out of School Suspension, a youth program, provides a safe, supervised environment for middle school students to learn about horticulture.
“We want to leave a legacy, because this is a community where people purchase homes not as an investment but as a homestead,” Smithers said.
On the west side of Wilmington, building community around environmental justice in New Castle County is Green for the Greater Good, a neighborhood work group. The group fosters resident-led involvement in land use, and right now is most vocal on the topic of making the Rodney Reservoir a permanent public greenspace.
Sitting atop the highest point in Wilmington’s Hilltop neighborhood, the nearly 4-acre reservoir has a rich history of community activity, dating back to the 1860s. Closed to the public in 2003, the Rodney Reservoir found new life in 2010 when residents transformed it into a community garden. More recently, the green space has also become home to a gardening program for students at Lewis Dual Language Elementary.
The reservoir’s future remains uncertain. In 2022, the City of Wilmington proposed its demolition for private development. Almost immediately, advocacy began, said Jamila Davey, a resident of Wilmington’s West Side and an active member of Green for the Greater Good.
“We went around the circle, to each person, saying why we needed to keep this green, to have the space afforded,” Davey said, recalling how community members met on a street corner to share their concerns with the mayor and council members. “It’s a mixed-dense neighborhood over here and people want it for access to nature. People want it for the green lung that it represents.”
The city has listened to residents to some extent, this past spring announcing intentions to create a community park at the site. The Rodney Reservoir is currently undergoing demolition ahead of becoming a fully graded and seeded grass area.
However, community members remain eager to be more engaged in comprehensive planning for the park. As Davey noted, research shows engaging potential users of green spaces in their development leads to the creation of spaces that are vibrant and well-used. Until they are, she said, the environmental advocacy work and community building continues.
