Our View

Wilmington was set to have its first beer garden since the days of Prohibition.

A buzz had been created, and the anticipation was growing. Delaware’s biggest city, a place that admits to struggling in reaching a younger millennial audience, and understands that it must give its citizens more things to do, was about to bring a unique summer treat to the Riverfront.

But as of now, that may not happen.

The 20,000-square-foot beer garden at Justison Landing Park was slated to open last week. But the plan to open near the Condominiums at Justison Landing has been met with some resistance by some residents that are worried about the potential noise, traffic and folks having a few too many.

In addition to the Wilmington Blue Rocks games, and the normal summer traffic that occurs in the Riverfront area, some feel that adding a beer garden on top of that is just too much.

"There are tons of people down here now," said Chuck Fleming in a recent News Journal article on the subject. The 57-year-old sales executive lives in the Condominiums at Justison Landing, and spoke on behalf of the homeowners' association.

"We've heard some people tell us, 'You live in the city. It doesn't matter.' Yes, it matters. Just because we live in a city doesn't mean we have to put up with stuff that you would never put up with in suburbia."

Some residents are already leery because of the late night music that can be heard from Firestone Roasting House.

But we feel that an agreement isn’t out of the question, because the weight of future implications that could be affected by the final decision.

Front page stories in our paper have discussed the struggles Wilmington has with recruiting a millennial workforce, that will not only work in the First State, but also call Delaware home.

Delaware’s perception is that it’s old, and “uncool.” Wilmington’s is that it’s unsafe.

So why delay something that could be “cool” and “safe” for residents to enjoy?

Don’t look at the beer garden as just an event that could produce some good times this summer, or even something that may cause a little too much noise, or bring in some added traffic.

Look at it as an opportunity. Because if this goes well, then other events may look at the Riverfront, Wilmington, and the First State as a potential option.

This isn’t about loud music, or sipping a cool one in the sun.

It’s about showing everyone else that Wilmington can be "cool."

It’s about taking advantage of an opportunity that can have a positive effect on the future.