Outdoor Global Classroom
West Side Grows Together's new Outdoor Global Classroom is an innovative program designed for individuals of all ages and abilities. This exciting initiative starts in April and aims to create a space where community members can come together to learn, engage, and connect with nature. Whether you're a student looking to expand your knowledge or an adult interested in exploring new skills, the Outdoor Global Classroom offers a welcoming outdoor environment for everyone to participate and grow. Don't miss the opportunity to be a part of this enriching experience!
Registration is FREE and open to ALL.
We ask that children under 10 years old be accompanied by a caregiver.
For more information — Contact Jamie at jshanklinspencer@westsidegrows.org
Are you interested in partnering with Outdoor Global Classroom for a future event and/or program series? Please reach out to jshanklinspencer@westsidegrows.org
Click below to REGISTER ONLINE for one or multiple events!
West Side Farmers Market
Cool Spring Park
Our weekly farmers market is a community-based initiative to promote access to the freshest local produce, coffee roasters, fancy bakery goods, local honey products, cold-pressed juices, herbs & teas, Italian handmade water ice, hot food made to order, fresh florals, family fun, and much more!
We are looking forward to a THIRD season and honored to bring the goodness back to Cool Spring Park!
HELD EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM 3:30-6:30PM
2024 OPENING JUNE 26th THRU OCTOBER 30th
*Accepting WIC, SFMNP, SNAP, and EBT
*We double your SNAP dollars
For every $5 you spend using SNAP/EBT —— You’ll get $5 Free to spend on Produce/Honey/Herbs/Plants!
Earn up to $20 per market. Redeemable at any market throughout the entire season.
Stay tuned for more merchant details. . . Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
Local Foods Initiative
Access to Healthy Eating
West Side Grows Together in collaboration with Bright Spot Farms founded the Cool Spring Farmer’s Market from 2011 - 2016. In 2016, the New Castle County Farmers Market Program began to manage the market with support from a USDA grant. After 4 years, the market was discontinued despite being a place where families across the West Side, and throughout the city, came to gather each week, connecting with food and farmers. Cornerstone launched the Local Food Committee in 2020 to help address the need to bring local fresh affordable produce to our community. In 2022, with community and partner support, Cornerstone rebooted the West Side Farmers Market and brought it back to Cool Spring Park.
Tree Planting Initiative
Aside from making a neighborhood more attractive, trees provide shade that helps keep sidewalks and homes cool, calm traffic, and make streets more pedestrian friendly, West Side Grows Together works with residents, the City, and partners like the Delaware Center for Horticulture (DCH) to take care of the trees in our neighborhoods and add more trees to our city streets. If you are looking for help with maintaining, pruning or removing a tree, you can find out more about resources available through the City here.
Community Playgrounds
West Side Grows Together believes that engaging neighbors in activating community public spaces is the foundation to creating happy, healthy, and vibrant neighborhoods – imagining and creating places where neighbors connect with each other, kids play outdoors, social events and interactions blossom. West Side neighbors participated in the renovation of Fourth St. Park, Connell St. Park, and Father Tucker Park and currently are engaged in the second phase of the Tilton Park and Cool Spring Park projects. Additionally, we work to increase usage and interest in the parks with park clean-up Days and special events.
Friends of the Parks
West Side Grows Together supports “Friends of Parks” groups at every major park in the West Side: Tilton Park, Cool Spring Park, Judy Johnson Park, Fourth St. Park, Connell St. Park, and Father Tucker Park. Volunteer group members maintain the parks by picking up trash, trimming bushes, and establishing personal relationships with park maintenance workers. This effort has greatly reduced crime, littering, and disorderly conduct taking place in West Side parks.
If you are interested in joining the Friends of the Parks click here to complete the sign up form.
For more information regarding park groups, click on the links below:
Cool Spring Eco-Trail
A collaboration between the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, West Side Grows Together and the City of Wilmington, with input and support from the community, the Cool Spring Eco-Trail houses interpretive signs that explore various green infrastructure and other related improvements that have been added to the park over time. The activities on the website change throughout the year, so check back often.
Delamore Place Community Garden
Delamore Place Garden is located in the heart of Hilltop, a predominantly low–wealth community in Wilmington. In 2018, West Side Grows partnered with the community and Sow Nurture Reap Landscaping to transform the vacant lot into a community garden. During the second growing season in 2019, the garden was actively cultivated by neighbors and maintained by the Be Ready CDC Block Academy Youth. Two years since its inception the garden has grown from 5 to 7 plots with additional infrastructure improvements such as new fencing and landscaping. West Side Grows uses the space to host workshops and engage local youth through volunteer opportunities.
Rodney Reservoir Community Garden
The Rodney Reservoir Community Garden is the largest community garden in the City of Wilmington, with more than 6,100 square feet of growing space. Every year, it produces hundreds of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables enjoyed by gardeners and shared among neighbors and friends. Perhaps most importantly, the Rodney Reservoir Community Garden has become a place where neighbors can meet and get to know each other while doing something they love.