Parking to become Park at hospital complex

[eldondre]

though it's a shame the food carts couldn't be accomodated in the park (or around it) it certainly will be an improvement to this eyesore
Construction begins at Spruce Street Plaza

[Naveen]

Agreed. I always hated that dead space. And they're doing it fairly cheaply, it seems to me.

University City has come a long way since the mid-90s, and I'm glad the progress is not letting up.

[billy ross]

Yet more proof that eldondre's obsession with Philadelphia supposedly allowing its park system to atrophy is utter delusion. Everywhere I turn is thoughtful investment in infrastructure to enhance Philadelphia's sense of place and status as a destination. Having lived through and fought so much disorienting development it's nice to see so much orienting development happen of late, development which helps the there there be a real there. It's really adding up.

[jbk]

There's unnecessary 'pedestrian control' in this design. Putting a fence between 33rd and 34th where they narrow together - although they did add one crossing. The removal of the sidewalk on the park side of 34th street (they don't want pedestrians crossing to the park in front of the hospital entrance. In fact there is no path into the park from anywhere except the corners of 33rd and 34th and Spruce. How long until there's a path through the bushes/trees/grass?

Plus the food cart area could have been retained (they've been moved over to Franklin Field).

However the parking lot is ugly - it should have been removed years ago (it's not actually associated with HUP).

[BarryG]

Yet more proof that eldondre's obsession with Philadelphia supposedly allowing its park system to atrophy is utter delusion. Everywhere I turn is thoughtful investment in infrastructure to enhance Philadelphia's sense of place and status as a destination. Having lived through and fought so much disorienting development it's nice to see so much orienting development happen of late, development which helps the there there be a real there. It's really adding up.

Yea but this is just adding more park space to maintain on the same, or shrinking, budget. Well this isn't the city's responsibility but most of the new parklets are. Huge swaths of Fairmount Park and many neighborhood parks are in terrible condition and there is no reason to believe the city is going to fix them up.

[billy ross]

Yea but this is just adding more park space to maintain on the same, or shrinking, budget. Well this isn't the city's responsibility but most of the new parklets are. Huge swaths of Fairmount Park and many neighborhood parks are in terrible condition and there is no reason to believe the city is going to fix them up.

Mt. Airy has 2 rec centers, three blocks from each other. One has lights. The other has restrooms. The same story plays out all over the city. There is room for rationalization to keep operating budgets reasonable. The new stuff the city is building doesn't require staffing paid out of the city's budget. That's the killer.

[BarryG]

Mt. Airy has 2 rec centers, three blocks from each other. One has lights. The other has restrooms. The same story plays out all over the city. There is room for rationalization to keep operating budgets reasonable. The new stuff the city is building doesn't require staffing paid out of the city's budget. That's the killer.

Are you saying it's ok to have barely functioning rec centers and parks, and keep building new ones? I don't understand what you mean. They still need to be maintained so they add to the budget.

[eldondre]

Yet more proof that eldondre's obsession with Philadelphia supposedly allowing its park system to atrophy is utter delusion. Everywhere I turn is thoughtful investment in infrastructure to enhance Philadelphia's sense of place and status as a destination. Having lived through and fought so much disorienting development it's nice to see so much orienting development happen of late, development which helps the there there be a real there. It's really adding up.

you have no idea what you're talking about so you should quit while you're ahead.
how does this new park make up for dilapidated rec centers, poorly maintained trails, crumbling sidewalks, etc? it doesn't. the one with the delusion is you, that you can somehow build small new parks and have that mean you are properly maintaining one of the largest park systems in the country with record low amounts. I generally respect your opinion but you cant open your eyes selectively.

Mt. Airy has 2 rec centers, three blocks from each other. One has lights. The other has restrooms. The same story plays out all over the city. There is room for rationalization to keep operating budgets reasonable. The new stuff the city is building doesn't require staffing paid out of the city's budget. That's the killer.

that's all very nice, but it isn't what you said I was delusional about. even the brand new playground down the street has a disgusting rec center where kids take karate when the whole building smells like an outhouse, there's no money to resod the field so it too is awful.

At Christy Recreation Center in West Philadelphia, the air-conditioning doesn't work, turning the gym into an unusable sauna in hot weather. Broken gym doors leave only one working exit, a potential fire hazard. Rain regularly floods the arts-and-crafts room, drips into light fixtures and swells ceiling panels until they're puffed and brown, like roasted marshmallows.

"This place is a wreck," said Thelma Jones-Benbow, president of Christy's advisory council.

http://articles.philly.com/2012-06-1...ets-city-parks
Even as Philadelphia has developed showcase outdoor parks, winning Mayor Nutter national acclaim for his efforts to increase green space and create an environmentally friendly city, Parks and Recreation facilities in many areas remain neglected.
anyway,

There's unnecessary 'pedestrian control' in this design. Putting a fence between 33rd and 34th where they narrow together - although they did add one crossing. The removal of the sidewalk on the park side of 34th street (they don't want pedestrians crossing to the park in front of the hospital entrance. In fact there is no path into the park from anywhere except the corners of 33rd and 34th and Spruce. How long until there's a path through the bushes/trees/grass?

Plus the food cart area could have been retained (they've been moved over to Franklin Field).

However the parking lot is ugly - it should have been removed years ago (it's not actually associated with HUP).

they've done a terrible job managing growth there (hard to believe would be so thoughtless but I guess being ivy league doesn't mean you make good decisions) but this is a nice if modest (and somewhat flawed) step

[annie]

This is all stupid anyway as it's Penn that owns the lot and is turning it into a park. Has nothing to do with the city Parks and Rec.

[concourse]

Too bad about the food carts. They fit quite well in the park/median. The new crosswalk is desperately needed.

[Naveen]

This is all stupid anyway as it's Penn that owns the lot and is turning it into a park. Has nothing to do with the city Parks and Rec.

Yeah, that's what I thought from reading the article. Sounds like Penn is the one dropping the $2.5 mill and I assume paying for the upkeep.

[Juntonian]

I pass the site daily and found it ironic that the row of trees along the northern fringe of the lot was removed to make way for green space. I'd have liked to see those established trees incorporated into the plan for the new park.