Uwishunu.com

Tweet

 

The opening of the new Race Street Pier Promenade is a major milestone in the redevelopment of Philadelphia's Delaware River Waterfront. (Images courtesy DRWC)

Just in time for the amazing spring weather we’ve been enjoying this week, the brand new Race Street Pier park officially opens to the public today at 2 p.m., as Mayor Nutter will cut the ribbon to welcome a new era of waterfront access, planning and development for Philadelphia. (There was a special preview last night, complete with fireworks — the park is already looking pretty great.)

Located at the end of Race Street along the waterfront’s edge, the new park turns 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.

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 Race Street Pier park features two levels — an upper level with a grand sky promenade and a lower level for gathering and recreation — plus 37 full-grown trees.

This modern urban riverfront oasis is 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.

And mark your calendar: on Memorial Day Weekend, May 28-29, the park will host a weekend of entertainment and activities to welcome in summer.

In Mayor Nutter’s words, “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. [...] We are truly creating a waterfront that will be enjoyed by generations of Philadelphians to come.”

We can’t wait to see this vision realized. And the new Race Street Pier park is certainly a very promising start!

Race Street Pier Park Ribbon-Cutting
When: Thursday May 12, 2 p.m.
Where: Columbus Boulevard at Race Street on the Delaware River
Cost: Free
More info: www.delawareriverwaterfrontcorp.com

Previously: The Awesome New Race Street Pier Set To Debut On May 11 With A Special Evening Of Food, Music, Fireworks And More