Wilson This Week

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Wilson This Week -- June 30, 2025

City offices close for Independence Day

City offices and recreation centers will be closed Friday, July 4, in honor of Independence Day. Here's how it might affect you:

Environmental Services: Monday and Tuesday routes are on schedule. There will be no special junk pickups this Wednesday for appliances, bulky items, etc. All garbage and recycling routes usually on Thursday will be served Wednesday. Likewise, Friday routes will be run Thursday.

Customer Service: The customer service office on Nash Street will be closed Friday. You can pay bills at a kiosk in the first drive-thru lane with cash, check and card payments 24 hours a day. Payments through the kiosk apply to City of Wilson utility and Greenlight customer accounts instantly. You can also pay online at WilsonNC.org or through the My Wilson service. 

Wilson RIDE: The city’s transit system will operate on Friday. Use the Via app or call 252-595-5357 to schedule rides.

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.

OK, now let's celebrate!

The 4th of July is an absolute banger of a holiday in that many of us want some bang-bangs in the skies above.

There are at least three fireworks shows in the area. The Wilson Tobs will hold their annual fireworks extravaganza this Thursday, July 3, following their game vs. the Holly Springs Salamanders. The first pitch will be at 6:40 p.m. and the fireworks will follow the game. Ticket info: www.WilsonTobs.com

The Carolina Mudcats will hold their annual Mudcats for America fireworks show, also on Thursday, July 3, following their game vs. the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. That game at Five County Stadium starts at 6:30 p.m. Ticket info: www.milb.com/carolina-mudcats

Then Wilson County Fairgrounds will host a free fireworks show on Friday, July 4. Gates at the fairground will open at 5 p.m. and the show will begin around 9 p.m. There will be food vendors and music to help celebrate the holiday.

Anyone planning to cook out this weekend should stop by the Wilson Farmers & Artisan Market, which will operate from 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, July 5. This would be a good weekend to roast some corn, grill some shrimp, or make a blueberry cobbler.

Cool off with a visit to the City of Wilson's splash pad or a city pool. The splash pad at Gillette Athletic Complex is open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3-7 p.m. daily and is free to enjoy. The schedules and fees for the pools at Wilson Recreation Center and Reid Street Community Center are below.

This Sunday, July 6, the Sunday at the Round House concert series will feature the SSML Band in concert. The free concert begins at 6 p.m. Sunday on the lawn of the O.N. Freeman Round House and African-American Museum, 1202 E. Nash St. Bring a lawn chair. There will be a food truck on site.

Keep safe while celebrating

Find ways to cope with relentless summer heat

Wilson has experienced several days with heat indices up to 105-112 degrees. We are expected to see above-normal temperatures for the foreseeable future. When extreme heats sets in, it is most important to be safe. Stay inside if you can and check on the elderly and those without air conditioning. Limit your time outdoors if possible and tackle any outdoor tasks early in the morning or in the evening hours. If you must be outside, take breaks in the shad as often as possible and stay hydrated. NEVER leave kids or pets unattended in a vehicle.  This link includes some important checklists.

Extreme temperatures will affect your energy usage, which can cause higher electric bills. Try some of these tips to keep your utility bill from heating up.

• Keep your thermostat set at 78-80 degrees. For every degree over 78, you'll save 6-8% on your cooling costs. Don't adjust your thermostat through the day and don't set it more than 20 degrees lower than the outside temperature. 
• Use a ceiling fan or portable fan along with your air conditioner. A fan can make you feel four degrees cooler and costs much less to operate. It won't cool an empty room, though, so turn it off when you leave. Remember, fans cool people not rooms. 
• Maintain your central unit by having a professional check it once a year. A unit working improperly can make your bills higher, especially for older units. 
• Use curtains, blinds and shades to your advantage. Sunlight hitting windows will heat your house, so keep blinds closed during the day. 
• Limit the use of your oven when it's hot outside. use the microwave, toaster oven or outdoor grill. 
• Use the clothes dryer at night when the outdoor temperature is lower. Don't use the heated drying cycle on your dishwasher. 
• Add weather stripping and caulking to keep the heat out and cool air in. A drafty home can cause your cooling cost to skyrocket, and adding weather stripping or caulking is an easy DIY project. 
• Limit the use of lighting during long summer days by keeping lights off as much as possible. Make sure you are using LEDs instead of traditional incandescent lightbulbs that emit heat. LEDs use 80 to 90% less energy than traditional lightbulbs. 
• Replace air filters regularly and make sure vents are not blocked by furniture. 
• Unplug vampire outlets - cords or appliance you keep plugged in all the time like your cell phone charger. Only plug it in when you needed. 

City sells South District Station for redevelopment

The U.S. 301 corridor will gain three restaurants in 2026, continuing the redevelopment spurred by the city's TIGER grant project. The Wilson City Council agreed earlier this month to sell the Wilson Police Department’s South District Station, which is adjacent to Fikewood Plaza on U.S. 301. Developer Parimal (Peter) Shreeji agreed to pay $227,000 for the 1-acre lot to the city, as well as spend at least $1.75 million to build a small strip center. He owns 11 Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins locations and has three more under construction across North Carolina and South Carolina. Plans call for the property to open in February 2026 with a Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins and Jimmy John’s. Only two staff members are currently assigned to the police station and they will be relocated to the main police department downtown. The closure will not affect patrol coverage in the area. Developers' interest in the 301 corridor has skyrocketed since the City won a federal TIGER transportation grant in 2015. The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant was used to improve infrastructure; fix drainage issues; add medians, sidewalks and crossroads; and overall improve safety and appearance. The work was mostly completed by 2019.

Free compost pickup July 12 at City facility 

Did you miss the last couple of compost give away dates? Here is another chance to take as much free compost as you can take away, on Saturday, July 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the City's outdoor compost facility at 3105 Stantsonburg Rd SE.  This free event is more than just a great gardening opportunity - it's a full-circle story of sustainability. Each week, Wilson's Environmental Services team collects your curbside yard waste - limbs, leaves, and more - and brings it to the outdoor compost facility. There, it's ground into mulch and carefully monitored by our Stormwater team. Once the compost pile reaches the proper internal temperature to kill off weeds and bacteria, it's ready for use.  The same nutrient-rich compost is what our Parks & Recreation Department uses in landscaping across the city parks and spaces - and now, it's available to you.  Heads up: If you reach Wedgewood Golf Course, you've gone too far. Turn around and look for the compost entrance on your right.

Last chance to share your thoughts

Today, June 30, is the final day to weigh in on the future look and feel of Downtown Wilson. Help shape the brand by taking our quick community survey - your input matters! 

Celebrate Parks & Rec month with us

This July marks the 40th anniversary of Parks & Recreation Month, and we're celebrating the ways our parks bring Wilson together. Follow along on social media as we spotlight staff, programs, and the spaces our community builds & plays - together.