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Wilson This Week -- Jan. 15, 2025

Parks improvements underway across city

REID STREET COMMUNITY CENTER

The Reid Street Community Center will soon be getting much-awaited improvements, and the pool makeover should be finished before this summer.

The Wilson City Council expects to approve Thursday night a nearly $750,000 contract for the work, which will begin with a new pool deck. That is expected to be done by Memorial Day, the start of the summer swim season. 

Immediately after that work is complete, the remainder of the improvements will begin, including a walking trail, two basketball courts, a playground, two picnic shelters, signage, landscaping and improved accessibility. 

The project is part of funding arranged from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by former U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield and announced in January 2023. 

NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS

Also in that funding was money for upgrades at 13 neighborhood parks, including new playground equipment, new landscaping and signage, and adding ADA accessibility. That work is also expected to begin this spring.

The parks selected for improvements are Carolina Street Park; Five Points Park; Fleming Stadium playground; Freeman Park; Freeman Roundhouse Museum; Lamm Park; Lane Park; Pender Street Community Center Park; Vera Pope Resource Center; Warren Street Park; Washington Carver Heights Park; Weaver-Bailey Park; and Wedgewood Park Area.

LAKE WILSON PARK Improvements are underway at Lake Wilson. A section of the walking path will be paved to improve accessibility in the park. The paved path will have a greenway layout, a 10-feet wide asphalt path similar to the path on the Hominy Creek Greenway. Lighting will also be added on the same section for extended use during winter months. The lighting system provides targeted light to illuminate the path without much ambient light and uses the same system that is in Rotary Park. The improvements will cover approximately 0.85 miles from the large parking lot to the bridge. The rest of the park will not be affected.  The construction fencing went up in early January throughout the improvement area. That fencing protects the lake from sediment from the grading and construction. Work will be done in sections to minimize disruption on the path. The park will remain open during construction. The project should be finished by this summer.

Council meets Thursday

Wilson City Council will hold its first meeting on 2025 this Thursday, beginning at 7 p.m., at Wilson City Hall, 112 Goldsboro St. N. You can see the agenda now.

How to watch live

The public is always welcome to attend meetings live, but we have also made it possible to watch online or later. This link will go live right before the meeting starts Thursday evening.

City closes offices for MLK Day

The City of Wilson offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 20, in observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. Monday’s garbage and recycling routes will be delayed until Tuesday. All other routes are on schedule this week, although environmental services will have no special pickups Wednesday.  Wilson RIDE will operate Monday, city parks are open, all emergency services will operate on normal schedules. Utilities will be staffed and ready to respond to outages or other situations; call 252-399-2424.

Nominations sought for Humanitarian Awards

The Wilson Human Relations Commission has already begun selling tickets for the 54th annual Human Relations Awards, which will be Friday, Feb. 21, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Darden Alumni Center, 1600 Lipscomb Road.

Nominations are needed for the awards; all nominees will be recognized at the event. We have several categories, including the prestigious Paul Lee Stevens Humanitarian of the Year.

When submitting a nomination, please include a support letter and any relevant materials such as articles, photos, or social media posts. We are looking for volunteers who have made significant contributions to our community, so nominations based solely on employment or profession will not be considered. If there is overlap with employment, the nomination letter should clearly demonstrate how the individual has gone above and beyond their job expectations.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to honor someone exceptional! All nomination forms and support letters must be submitted by Friday, Jan. 31. For more information, call the Human Relations office at 252-399-2308 or go to the city's website for nomination forms, which will be available this Friday.

Winter temperatures keeping Wilson frigid

Although the winter storm last weekend didn't bring much snow, the temperatures in Wilson have been frigid. Artic air is hanging on, bringing a series of days with lows in the teens. Those cold temps can have you seeing red when you get your utility bills in February. Try some of these energy-saving tips to avoid high bills: Reduce your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting. The smaller the difference between the inside and outside temperatures, the lower your energy usage and bills. We recommend a maximum of 68 degrees in the winter.  If you heat your home with a heat pump, set it and forget it! Heat pumps work best with a consistent temperature. If you heat with natural gas, you can turn the thermostat down when no one is home and set to the lowest comfortable setting when you are home.  One of the easiest things customers can do for heating efficiency is to change air filters regularly. A dirty air filter makes a heating system work harder, which uses more energy and can increase costs. Also, have heating systems checked regularly by a qualified heating and air conditioning contractor to maintain efficiency and peak performance. Leave drapes or blinds open during sunny winter days to allow the sun's rays to warm the house, but close them at night to help insulate your home. One of best energy-saving habits you can do each year is to check windows, doors and vents for air leaks. Caulking, sealing and weatherstripping leaks can save 10% to 20% in heating costs. Manage water heating. Set your water heater to 120 degrees or less. Water heating is typically the second biggest user of energy in your home.

Learn about Stormwater at 2nd Saturday Science, hosted by Imagination Station

Where does rain go after it falls to the ground? Discover why knowing where water goes and the lives that depend on it. Meet the team who keeps Wilson's streams and lakes clean as they guide us through an adventure in our own backyard! 

This is an extra fun Saturday event for the whole family with hands-on activities appropriate for ages 5 and up.

NC DOT seeks input for Raleigh Road Parkway

The N.C. Department of Transportation is seeking public input on a feasibility study for improving access and traffic safety on Raleigh Road Parkway. The department will hold an open house on Jan. 23 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Raleigh Road Baptist Church, 4150 Raleigh Road Parkway West. People may drop in during the meeting at any time to review conceptual design maps, ask questions and provide comments. You can read more about the project and how to provide comments at the link below. 

Tackle your tech with the help of Greenlight team

Technology doesn’t have to be tricky—let us show you how to make it work for you! Join our Greenlight Ed. classes to get hands-on guidance straight from Greenlight team members. During Greenlight Ed. you'll learn: How to master essential internet skills How to navigate Greenlight TV like a pro Learn to take control with the Greenlight Wi-Fi app And so much more! Whether you're a tech newbie or just looking to fine-tune your skills, these sessions are designed to empower and connect you with the tools you need to get the most out of your Greenlight service. Starting on Jan. 29, classes are held on the last Wednesday of every month with two time options of 10 AM or 6 PM.