Wilmington residents return to renovated Eastlake Park

Leslie Walker, executive director of the Sixers Youth Foundation, said it was time for Delaware to have a quality basketball facility. On Wednesday, she joined city officials to cut the ribbon on Eastlake Park in Wilmington. The park had been closed for repairs since July 2025.

The foundation paid for the basketball court refurbishment. Workers paved and painted the playing surface, installed new hoops, rims, and nets, and upgraded the lighting. Walker noted that the organization has previously renovated 15 courts in the greater Philadelphia region.

The basketball court is only one part of the project. The renovation also included a new wall ball system, a splash pad, a drinking fountain, a pavilion, and benches. The playground system was completely replaced. Dr. Melody Phillips, director of Wilmington's Department of Parks and Recreation, stated that the city manages more than 70 parks. She explained that Eastlake Park is special because it serves both adults and children within the 30th St. Civic Association neighborhood.

"The entire 30th St. Civic Association, the entire community surrounding this area, this park truly belongs to the people," Phillips said. "It's special, unique because we have things for adults and things for the kids here, so the blend of that makes it possible for all sorts of family activities to happen in this park."

Residents who have lived near the park for decades attended the reopening. VaNiyah Fearon, who grew up in the neighborhood, described the event as major. "This is the first time our park has been done," Fearon said. "I am pushing 50, so this is big. We've never seen our park done."

The closure lasted from approximately July 2025 until Wednesday. Aazaad Ali, 13, lives two blocks from the park. He commented on the new facilities. "It looks good," Ali said. "I like it very much and I like what they did with this park."