City designates site beside Kalmar Nyckel education center as temporary homeless camp testing the balance between compassion, safety, and public trust.
WILMINGTON, Del. — Wilmington will designate Christina Park as a temporary, city-sanctioned community site for people experiencing homelessness — a move that focuses new attention on the historic riverfront park that sits beside the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation’s maritime education campus and children’s programs.
Mayor John Carney announced the step Friday as part of a broader strategy shaped by the city’s Homelessness Task Force, which has spent months reviewing how to respond to visible encampments and rising need across the city. The mayor framed the decision as an attempt to balance compassion for unhoused residents with concerns from nearby neighborhoods and stakeholders.
Under the plan, Christina Park will serve as the only authorized outdoor site for encampments in Wilmington, with the city providing restrooms, clean water and on-site management to improve safety, sanitation and access to services…