A new park project is underway in Bridesburg with new funding from PennDOT

More good news for the city who just boosted their national park quality ranking.

The Northeast riverfront neighborhood of Bridesburg will be the site of a sweeping new 10-acre park along the Delaware River. The park will be the latest addition to Riverfront North, the 11-mile slice of parks and trails along the Delaware River in the Northeast section of the city.

The construction will happen in two phases, with the first half slated for completion in 2022 due to a $1.4 million-dollar donation from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Multimodal Transportation Fund. This phase will bring a park with riverfront views, unstructured play areas, parking, and restrooms.

The second portion of the construction will equip the park with a stage and picnic pavilion, terraced lawn seating, and even a river boardwalk. The rest of phase two is estimated to be a price tag of $5 million, which is currently being fundraised by Riverfront North and the City of Philadelphia.

The park will also focus on ecological restoration and will feature trails and an upland meadow with views of both the Betsy Ross and Tacony-Palmyra bridges. The park will also connect with existing trails on the Greenway and regional Circuit and national East Coast Greenway trails.

The park plans are the result of a land deal and a community engagement project from 2015 facilitated by the Riverfront North Partnership and our Parks & Recreation office. As executive director of Riverfront North Partnership, Stephanie Phillips said, “Riverfront North is committed to connecting people back to their river. If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that our parks are an integral part of our physical and mental wellbeing.”

The North Riverfront’s primary mission is to connect Philadelphians with our riverfronts and experience the benefits of being outdoors. They have worked closely with the City of Philadelphia to create the 11-mile greenway on the Delaware River in Northeast Philadelphia that currently exists.

The project is also funded by The William Penn Foundation, the City of Philadelphia, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, PA Department of Community and Economic Development, and The McLean Contributionship.

Read more here about the park specs.

Photos courtesy of Riverfront North Partnership

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Jada is a West Philly native passionate about environmental justice and climate adaptation in the city. Currently she is a Program Coordinator for the Overbrook Environmental Education Center, but in her spare time she enjoys spending time in nature, mixing music and tending to her plants. View all posts by Jada Ackley