Rodney Square Works -The Plaza and Splash Fountain
The Plaza and Splash fountain in Rodney Square in Wilmington, DE opened June 2, 2021. The Plaza and Fountains were Phase I of the Rodney Square Works Project, a multi-phased public-private partnership led by the Rodney Square Conservancy (RSC) to renovate this historic area.
Apex was grateful to be a part of the design team performing the survey, preparing the site plans, facilitating the drainage and utility coordination, planning the erosion and sediment controls, and completing the Street Improvement Plans work on this phase. Apex is also involved in the Phase II portion of the Project.
Rodney Square is located in the heart of the downtown of the City of Wilmington. The public square was constructed in the early 20th century by John Jacob Rasko under the direction of Pierre S. duPont to create more beauty in public landscape. The design was influenced by the “City Beautiful Movement” in an effort to “improve social order” through the creation of attractive spaces to encourage civic pride and engagement. Since 2011, the Rodney Square landscape and buildings, the Caesar Rodney Equestrian Statue and the Nemours Building were placed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Rodney Square Historic District. Rodney Square houses two bus stops for several DART bus routes. From 1992 to 2017, it was a main hub for DART before the Wilmington Transit Center was built by the Wilmington Train Station. The square is surrounded by the DuPont Building, New Castle Court House and City Hall, Wilmington Institute Free Library, United States Post Office, Court House, Custom House and Nemours Building. Rodney Square is truly a gorgeous, multi-functional representation of the City’s current and historical community.