Council President Gregory and President-elect Shabazz Thank Salesianum School and Look Forward to Representative Potter’s Efforts to Find Funding for the Renovation of Baynard Stadium
Wilmington City Council President Theo Gregory and Council President-elect Shabazz today expressed their appreciation to Salesianum School for its willingness to raise as much as $20 million dollars in private funding for the renovation of the City’s Baynard Stadium sports facility.
The Council leaders said Council’s review process was intended to allow for a full community review of the proposed lease between the City and the school, which they said has been accomplished. Gregory and Shabazz said the review revealed some deep community concerns about the current and future use of the stadium by community-based youth teams. They both agreed that these problems will have to be resolved and said they are ready to assist in seeking some resolution. They noted that the issues surrounding community use of the stadium and the cost to use the stadium will have to be dealt with regardless of the when the renovation funding issues are resolved.
The Council President and President-elect said with Salesianum’s withdrawal of its offer to renovate and manage the stadium, which they understand and respect, that leaves the review process in the hands of Representative Charles Potter who has said that he will be able to find funding from the State for the renovation of the stadium and also ensure that community needs are met for its future use.
“We look forward to assisting Representative Potter and whatever form of a task force he is able to assemble to find future funding for the stadium which is in dire need of renovations,” said Gregory. “The Representative and others were clear in their position that more study was needed and now we have every opportunity to study the issue without delay and find the funding before the stadium’s structural problems worsen,” said Shabazz.
For more information about this news release, contact:
John Rago
Communications and Policy Development Director
Wilmington City Council
Phone: (302) 576-2149
Mobile: (302) 420-7928
Email: jrago@WilmingtonDE.gov