The second of three coordinated workshops regarding the proposed stormwater project at the former Caesar Rodney Residence Hall Complex (Rodney Dorm Site) is scheduled for Thursday, September 28, from 6 - 8 p.m. in the municipal building located at 220 S. Main Street. The meeting will focus on the conceptual designs as well as the anticipated range of costs for each.
The first stormwater project workshop was held on July 25, and included approximately 25 residents who participated in activities to provide input for design consideration. The majority of participants preferred making the area a wet pond surrounded by natural amenities, such as a walking path/trail and native plants.
"Most agreed stormwater management and the need to control flooding in Newark using the Rodney site as a stormwater management facility was the primary goal for the project," said acting city manager Tom Coleman. "The project team incorporated feasible ideas and feedback from that meeting into draft/conceptual designs that will be presented on the 28th."
As part of the robust public participation program supporting the redevelopment of the Rodney Dorm Site, the City of Newark is hosting public workshops to solicit input and feedback from the public. The goal of the workshops is to develop a final project design for the Rodney Dorm site that residents of and visitors to Newark will proudly utilize for years to come.
The Rodney Dorm Site closed in the spring of 2015, and environmental remediation activities are set to take place before the existing dormitory facilities are demolished. The City of Newark is under contract to purchase property and wants to create a plan for development of the site, which will integrate a state of the art stormwater management facility along with recreational and educational components.
By incorporating input from the public, elected officials, and City staff, the final plan will include a combination of items balancing community recreation, infrastructure, and stormwater needs. Integration with the surroundings, existing conditions, and consideration of environmental and natural resources will be included in the final design. The City anticipates utilizing State Revolving Loan Funds through the referendum process, which is scheduled for Spring 2018, for the purchase and development of the site.
The final workshop in the series is scheduled for Wednesday, November 8, from 6 - 8 p.m. in the municipal building and will include a presentation of the preferred concept for the new site and next steps. All materials are posted online at newarkde.gov/Rodney.