Slideshow: Renewing Edgemoor Gardens
Read and listen to Dolores M. Bernal’s story on Edgemoor Gardens and the Blueprint Communities initiative. Click any photo to launch slideshow.
-
- Edgemoor Gardens is minutes from Wilmington’s decaying industrial area.
-
- Abandoned homes are a common sight in the neighborhood.
-
- This house has a Notice of Abatement from the county on its front door.
-
- These notices inform the owners that they need to address the appearance and state of their properties.
-
- A neighborhood kid takes a walk at Edgemoor Gardens.
-
- Cheri Whitney led the revitalization campaign in her community in 2007. She now is Executive Director of her non-profit, the Edgemoor Revitalization Cooperative.
-
- The grants from the Affordable Housing Program awarded to Whitney’s community has helped rehab 10 homes in her community.
-
- The crown jewel of the revitalization project is the new ERC Resource House seen here. This is a community center for youth in the community.
-
- Before the ERC Resource House was created, it was also in decay. With the grant money, the kitchens were renovated as well as the bathrooms, the rooms, and the yard.
-
- One the areas of the house where youth gather for learning activities.
-
- Community youth enjoying the living area of the ERC Resource House.
-
- Cheri Whitney along with staff and youth at the ERC Resource House.
-
- An ERC staff member smiles with pride in front of the Resource House which opened in 2011.
-
- This is one of two community gardens at Edgemoor. Kids from the neighborhood have the chance to learn gardening skills and eat the fruits and vegetables after harvest.
-
- A variety of produce is planted in the gardens, including strawberries, lettuce, carrots, and other nutritional produce.
-
- Plants waiting to go in the garden.
-
- The second community garden.
-
- Group photo at the community garden.
-
- A path cuts across what used to be a community garden during World War II. Whitney plans to turn it into a garden again where the community can volunteer.
