After a one-year delay and $9 million in budget overruns, Wilmington has begun construction on North Waterfront Park -- a 6.6-acre development that will include a green space, playgrounds and an amphitheater that will hold almost 7,000 people.

The riverside project, located off Cowan St, is part of the city’s Vision 2020 Plan to link Wilmington venues to surrounding bodies of water. It also seeks to ease city transportation by laying pathways through the park, which will connect downtown streets to the promenade along the Cape Fear River.

The amphitheater will host concerts, plays and festivals, among other things. According to Amy Beatty, director of community services, parts of the park will remain open to the public during concerts.

PPJ Residential Developer Porter Jones, who is building an apartment complex in the area, said that he expects tenants to be young professionals who make $75,000-$85,000 annually.

The development has faced delays and run almost 50% over its $20 million allocation from the 2016 parks bond due to “cost drivers” like rebuilding after Hurricane Florence and grounding utilities.

The city will cover the deficit by borrowing from delayed projects and partnering with the Cape Fear Public Utilities Authority