Five-year capital improvement plan reviewed in Wildwood

Preliminary approval was given for Wildwood's five-year capital improvement plan at the Planning & Zoning Commission’s (P&Z) Nov. 2 meeting.

A shared use path is being constructed along Old State Road to create a pedestrian and bicycle connection. (Photo courtesy of city of Wildwood) Every year, the City Council updates and adopts a five-year capital improvements plan that allocates portions of the city's revenue for future use throughout the community, said Joe Vujnich, director of planning and parks. The review is intended to ensure compliance with the city's master plan.

"Obviously, the last few years have been difficult for the city of Wildwood and its leadership, particularly the mayor and city council, as we've seen some of our revenue sources plateau or decrease, while we all know expenditures have skyrocketed over that same period of time," Vujnich said. "And so despite all of the challenges, the city continues to prioritize certain capital improvements and completes those capital improvements through the capital improvement sales tax, as well as grants from federal, state and local governments."

Key capital improvements include a new multi-use trail along Old State Road, creating a continuous link from the Enclaves at Cherry Hills, along Old State Road to Ridge Road, and then south to the Rock Hollow Valley Trail. The Village Green Phase 2 – and its inclusive playground – are included in the plan, as is the Main Street Extension project (from City Hall west to Eatherton Road) to include design and engineering, along with acquisition of right-of-way. Valley Road would also receive resurfacing and stormwater improvements.

A new 10-foot asphalt shared use path will be constructed between Green Pines Park and the existing shared use path in the Villages at Bright Leaf Subdivision. (Photo courtesy of HR Green) "It (Valley Road) has not received major improvements, other than resurfacing and bridge replacement since the inception of the city," Vujnich said.

Other improvements include watershed management in the upper reaches of Caulks Creek Watershed and bridge replacement projects along Wild Horse Creek Road that require right-of-way acquisitions this year.

"Most of the cost of those bridges will be covered by Federal grants, approved by the East-West Gateway Council of Governments," Vujnich said.

Other projects scheduled for 2027 include Poertner Park safety improvements, the Green Pines Park connector trail and improvements to city hall.

"Those seven projects are the focus of what I believe is an ambitious program in 2027," Vujnich noted. "There are others that are identified in years 2028, 2029, 2030 and the end of that five-year cycle 2031."

Although the City Council voted to approve the five-year program during the work session Nov. 9, the bill will need final approval by the council during the regular meeting in December.

Five-year capital improvement plan reviewed in Wildwood

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