For updates about waterfront planning and development information
Delaware River Trail /JUNE 2010 UPDATE
The first section of the Delaware River Trail, an off-sidewalk segment, which connects Pier 70 Boulevard to Washington Avenue, was officially opened May 27th. The next segment will connect Washington Avenue north to Penn Treaty Park. This segment will run primarily on the sidewalk along Columbus Boulevard except in the Penn’s Landing area, where it will be on the waterfront promenade. Initial surveying for this segment is in progress presently and we hope to have it fully certified with the various city agencies by the end of the summer.
As part of these recreational improvements, DRWC has identified locations thorough Penn’s Landing for the installation of up to 35 new bike racks, through the City of Philadelphia’s “Adopt-a-Rack” program. The supporting documentation for this program has been prepared and submitted to the city.
A photo of the newly opened section of the multi-use recreation trail, which extends from Pier 70 Boulevard to Washington Avenue
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Phase 1 of this interim multi-use recreational trail was constructed by the Center City District in 2009. It is a new asphalt trail along the river’s edge between Pier 70 Boulevard and Washington Ave. The trail was formally opened by the DRWC on May 27, 2010, and DRWC will be providing maintenance and security for the trail.
Phase 2 of the trail will be located on the sidewalk next to Columbus Boulevard / Delaware Avenue between Washington Avenue and Penn Treaty Park, and will follow the existing sidewalk through the Penn’s Landing area. DRWC is in the process of applying to the city for certification of the sidewalk as a multi-use bicycle and pedestrian route. It is anticipated that this process will be complete by September of 2010 and DRWC will formally open this section of trail at that time.
Race Street Connector / JUNE 2010 UPDATE Right now, the Race Street Connector project is working with artists on the public art aspect of the project. At the end of June, the artists will meet and walk the site. During the week of July 13, the artists will then provide mid-process review proposals which will be reviewed and the team will give feedback on the proposals to the city’s Office of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy.
Concurrently, James Corner Field Operations is working on their schematic design, which will be presented the same week as the artists’ proposals. The project is currently on schedule.
The Race Street Connector project is divided into two phases, with the first phase focusing on improvements to the south side of the street (areas 1, 3, and 4 on the map)
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Improvements are planned for Race Street between 2nd Street and Columbus Boulevard. These improvements will make this connection between the Old City neighborhood and the new Race Street Pier park more pedestrian and bicycle friendly.
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is managing this project along with the DRWC and it contains many stakeholders and partners. James Corner Field Operations has been hired to complete plans through design development for improvements to the connector street. The plans will include a public art component.
Design is expected to be completed along with cost estimating in November of 2010. There are no funds for construction at this time, but DRWC will be exploring opportunities for funding, and it is hoped that this money can be raised so that Phase 1, which is located on the southern portion of the street, can be implemented and opened at approximately the same time as the Race Street Pier is opened (early summer 2011).
Funding for the project is as follows:$120,000 from PHS (grant from the William Penn Foundation)
$85,000 for public art from DRWC and the City’s Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy
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