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NORTH DELAWARE RIVERFRONT: PROJECTS
Riverfront Greenway Plan
An implementation strategy was developed by Greenways, Inc, Econsult and Schelter & Associates, through grant funding provided to the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, for a 11 mile publicly-accessible riverfront greenway corridor, river road and trail system extending from Bridesburg to Glen Foerd, as outlined in the City’s North Delaware Riverfront Comprehensive Plan and vision for the riverfront. This plan was recently adopted by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and will be developed under the guidance of the Delaware River City Corporation (DRCC). The river’s edge greenway will provide continuous public access to the riverfront, and will also include passive landscapes and riverbank restoration, a riverfront bike and pedestrian trail, new River Road, active sports and recreational opportunities, esplanade walkways and overlooks. It could also include restaurants, marinas and additional public boating facilities, in addition to public event space. The ‘green infrastructure’ is designed to attract and support private investment that will redevelop hundreds of acres of adjacent vacant and underutilized properties along the riverfront. This plan was developed with the oversight and guidance of riverfront business representatives, riverfront community organizations, municipal, State and federal governmental agencies, elected officials and non-government organizations.
Lead: Delaware River City Corporation, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Fairmount Park Commission and Philadelphia City Planning Commission
Greenway Trail - Port Richmond to Torresdale
A continuous bike and pedestrian trail, covering a distance of approximately 11 miles (including gateways), is being developed that would extend from Allegheny Avenue and Delaware Avenue at Pulaski Park in Port Richmond, along the Delaware River through Bridesburg, Wissinoming, Tacony, Holmesburg and Torresdale to Grant Avenue and State Road where it would continue into Bucks County. Much of the trail will be developed on an abandoned Conrail freight rail line – the Kensington & Tacony track – that extends along the River and ends in Tacony. Sections of the trail as it develops are: Section 1 – Allegheny Avenue to the Old Frankford Creek; Section 2 – aka. the K&T Trail - Arsenal Boat Launch to Milnor south of the Tacony Warehouse site, being developed as the private residential development of Tacony Pointe; Section 3 – Disston Street (at the river) to Rhawn; Section 4 – Pennypack on the Delaware to Pleasant Hill Park at Linden Avenue. There will be several gateway entrances and parking lots, as well as improvements to the ‘link’ streets that will enable residents to make a direct connection from areas west of I-95 to the river trail.
Our Trail is part of the national East Coast Greenway, a designated National Millennium Trail that will extend 2600 miles on and off-road bike trail from Maine to Florida, and the Delaware River Heritage Trail, a 60 mile loop trail from Trenton, NJ to the Tacony Palmyra Bridge and north on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware along the Greenway Trail to Bucks County and on to Morrisville, PA.
Lead: Delaware River City Corp., Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Fairmount Park Commission and Delaware River Greenway Partnership
Lardner’s Point Park
The creation of a riverfront park on 4.5 acres of land immediately south of the Tacony Palmyra Bridge and in front of the Water Department’s Lardner’s Point Pump Station is proposed. The park would include a river overlook and fishing pier at the river’s edge, riparian edge restoration and creation of tidal wetlands, and restoration of a riverbank forest area for picnicking and passive recreational activities. The park will be a gateway and trailhead for the Delaware River Heritage Trail from New Jersey and the K&T Trail that will run along the Philadelphia side of the Delaware River from Allegheny Avenue to Bucks County.
Lead: Delaware River City Corp., Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Fairmount Park Commission and Delaware River Greenway Partnership
Delaware Avenue Extension (Bridesburg)
The Delaware Avenue Extension Project will extend the Avenue north from Lewis Street to Buckius Street (across a new bridge over the Frankford Creek) and is intended to relieve truck traffic congestion on Richmond Street. The project will consist of a two-lane highway, with acquisition of right-of-way for pedestrian use. Subsequent ‘softening’ of the section’s character could occur as non-industrial uses gradually replace existing industrial activities.
Lead: Philadelphia Streets Department
Pleasant Hill Park (Torresdale)
Pleasant Hill Park, a city park located at Linden Avenue and the River is a 20 acre park with facilities that include fish ponds (known as the Fish Hatcheries), public boat launch, softball fields, walking paths and riverfront viewing. With the help of former Secretary Kathleen McGinty, PA Department of Environmental Protection, State Representative Michael McGeehan, State Senator Michael Stack, Councilwoman Joan Krajewski and the Philadelphia Department of Recreation a new Master Plan has been developed. The Plan seeks to enhance the educational, recreational and coastal experience of future visitors to the site.
Lead: Philadelphia Department of Recreation
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