| USA. North Delaware riverfront receives $1.37 M revitalization award from PA Governor Rendell |
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| Monday, 23 October 2006 | |
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Environmental news: Governor Edward G. Rendell said Philadelphians will be able to restore their relationship with their river now that Pennsylvania is investing nearly $1.4 million to revitalize the underused asset of the Delaware Riverfront north of Center City. "These grants will help improve greenways, open space and trails along the Delaware Riverfront, connecting neighborhoods to the river," Governor Rendell said. "We are helping to enhance the quality of life for residents and, at the same time, the city's economy." The North Delaware Riverfront is an 11-mile stretch from Penn Treaty Park to Glen Foerd and it is hemmed in on the west by Interstate 95. The landscape includes vistas of green shoreline on the New Jersey side, large parcels of vacant brownfields, city park lands, industrial businesses and good access to transportation. The city conducted a vision plan in 2001 that recommended a mostly residential redevelopment plan for the riverfront with a continuous greenway and trail along the water. The three grants are: $1 million for the Delaware River City Corp. for construction of public access projects, including a new section of the Delaware Riverfront Greenway trail through currently unopened sections of Pennypack Park and construction of the new Lardner's Point Park at the foot of the Tacony Palmyra Bridge that will connect with the bike trail along the former Kensington and Tacony rail track. $225,000 to the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) for preliminary design and alignment of remaining "gaps" in Pennsylvania's East Coast Greenway trail along the Delaware River from Bristol Borough in Bucks County through Philadelphia, connecting to the Schuylkill River Trail, Philadelphia International Airport and Delaware County. $150,000 to PEC for support of community collaboration, visioning and outreach regarding connecting residents and workers to the riverfront for recreation and public greenway development. Funding for the grants comes from Growing Greener II, a voter-approved $625 million bond issue, and Keystone '93, a DCNR fund generated from a portion of the realty transfer tax. "Conservation isn't only about land, it's also about people's relationship to our natural resources," said Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DiBerardinis today during an event in Pennypack Park to announce the grants. "Our investments in making the Delaware Riverfront an attractive green space where people want to live, and accessible to people who want to enjoy the outdoors, will help leverage private investments and bring new life to this area." The grants will help carry out goals of the North Delaware Greenway Plan, released today by Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street. Developed by a coalition of city agencies, environmental organizations, local businesses and community groups, and adopted by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, the plan will be managed by the Delaware River City Corp. "Investment in the city's riverfronts is crucial to the continued revitalization of Philadelphia," Mayor Street said. "Thanks to Governor Rendell's support, we can immediately begin phase one of our Greenway Plan -- building public access to the river. We look forward to continuing this city/state partnership as we implement other plan milestones." Former U.S. Rep. Robert A. Borski Jr., chairman of the board of the Delaware River City Corp., a new non-profit public/private organization that is spearheading the implementation of the public green infrastructure plan, said Pennsylvania's investment in conservation along the riverfront is critical to open the area to public access right from the beginning. "This project requires broad public and private partnerships," Borski said. "We thank Governor Rendell for supporting our vision that if we make the riverfront accessible to people, they will flock to the river for business, housing and fun." "The North Delaware Greenway is a linchpin in reclaiming the Delaware Riverfront," said Pennsylvania Environmental Council Vice President Patrick Starr. "Support from Governor Rendell and DCNR will enable PEC to make connections north and south from the North Delaware and to help facilitate transformation along the entire 60-mile tidal Delaware corridor." |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 23 October 2006 ) |
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