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The new park will turn a vacant, one-acre pier just south of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge into a vibrant public space with trees, a promenade, a lawn, and a terrace — all with spectacular river views. (Images courtesy Delaware River Waterfront Corporation)

Construction has begun on a brand new park that is coming soon to the Race Street Pier along the Delaware River Waterfront.

The striking new park, called Race Street Pier, is being built on the vacant Pier 11, which is located at the base of Race Street just south of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

The new Race Street Pier will become one of the first public spaces to be designed and built by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation and is an Early Action project that’s part of the ambitious Civic Vision for the Central Delaware Riverfront. It will be one of several open space improvements planned for every half mile along the central Delaware as part of the new Master Plan.

The project is scheduled for completion and a grand opening to the public in late spring of 2011 and is intended to serve as an early example of high-quality open space along the Central Delaware River Waterfront.

The Design

The park’s new design comes from James Corner Field Operations, the internationally recognized landscape architecture and urban design firm responsible for the design of the widely acclaimed and award-winning High Line Park in New York City.

The physical design of the new Race Street Pier will be split into two levels — an upper level with a grand sky promenade and a lower level for gathering and passive recreation. A dramatic ramp will rise along the north face alongside the bridge, dramatizing the sense of arriving in the space of the river. A lower terrace will support a multi-purpose lawn and generous seating terrace with spectacular river views.

The new park will also feature 37 mature, 8 inch caliper, nearly fully grown trees which will provide instant dramatic impact upon opening.

A rendering of the park seen from above, along the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. (Image courtesy Delaware River Waterfront Corporation)

We’ve got a lot more information below, including a few more renderings, quotes from the Mayor, and a video from the groundbreaking.

The project site has been renamed the Race Street Pier in order to emphasize the location of the park and its connection to the city. The end goal is to create a strong, distinct and valuable public space that reconnects the City to the River and provides a riverfront amenity for residents and tourists alike.

Last month, the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC ) along with Mayor Nutter and City and State Officials broke ground for the park.

“After years of planning and discussion the revitalization of the Delaware River waterfront is beginning to quickly take shape, driven by world-class design and community involvement,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter.

“The Race Street Pier will be a spectacular new park which will engage people from the adjacent neighborhoods, people from all parts of the City and tourists in a wonderful new way to experience the majestic Delaware River,” Nutter continued. “I want to thank the many community leaders, and funders who have worked with us to bring this project to fruition. We are truly creating a waterfront that will be enjoyed by generations of Philadelphians to come.”

Here’s a video from the groundbreaking.

 
In addition to breaking ground for this new park, DRWC also announced a new initiative, the Race Street Connector, which will create a new attractive and dramatic experience for residents and visitors from Old City to walk, bike or drive from 2nd and Race Streets to Columbus Boulevard to this exciting new pier.

“The new Race Street Pier is an early action project of the Civic Vision which will set new standards of excellence in design and public input that will have far reaching impact beyond this new park,” said Tom Corcoran, president of DRWC.

“The Race Street Pier represents a significant investment in a high quality public space intended to serve as a catalyst for the adjacent area and future development of the Central Delaware River Waterfront. The new Race Street Connector project is another exciting addition to this waterfront program and is yet another example of our commitment to reconnect the City to the waterfront through key streets, which is an important principle of the new Master Plan for the Central Delaware.”

The new Race Street Pier is an example of Philadelphia working hard to reconnect the city to its waterfront in a way that will engage residents and visitors alike. (Image courtesy Delaware River Waterfront Corporation)

Overall, everything about this sounds pretty amazing. We can’t wait to see it open.

Race Street Pier: Oh Yeah, It’s ON! [Brownstoner Philadelphia]
Race Street Pier [Plan Philly]