The Wilmington City Council has approved a public/private partnership between the city and Salesianum School which will lead to the reconstruction of Wilmington’s Baynard Stadium athletic complex.

The vote was 12 yes and one member absent. While the citywill retain ownership of the stadium, it will now formally enter into a lease agreement with Salesianum School, which plans to spend$15 to 20 million to overhaul the facility.

“We recently unveiled a plan to renovate and improve two city facilities – Baynard Stadium and Eden Park—and to provide much more in the way of recreational opportunities for Wilmington citizens, especially our youth,” said Mayor Mike Purzycki. “Tonight, Council has given its approval to the Baynard Stadium lease agreement and has, by extension, enabled us to move forward as planned with creating a new Eden Park which will become a jewel in the city’s park system. I extend my appreciation to council and to citizens who contributed to the details of the new lease agreement.”

“I also extend my deepest appreciation to Salesianum School for his long-documented commitment to Wilmington and for working closely with my administration, council and the community over the past year to help craft a revised lease agreement for the long-term management of Baynard Stadium,” Purzycki stated. “Most importantly, Salesianum will now embark on one of its more ambitious fundraising efforts ever and its care and concern for our city will benefit all of the citizens for years to come.”

Salesianum earlier proposed the lease and the rebuilding of the stadium. However, objections were raised on various issues and the Catholic high school quickly dropped the proposal.

The new agreement added guarantees on an access by other schools and organizations and came with a commitment by the city to upgrade a key park.