What will it take to get Squirrel Hill falls functioning as a useable space again?

[Syrinx2112]

Could be just on hold for the winter. Let's see what the spring brings.

[seand]

The way it was designed, it was neither sustainable nor useful as a public space. Even when it wasn't falling apart and several ft deep in trash and construction debris it was basically open and used about 3 times a year. Basically it was a huge waste of money and would have been much better done as a simple open pocket park with a couple of benches, maybe a small jungle gym. There is no point in cleaning it up if the idea is to restore it to Danielle Hunter's unstustainable plan because it was almost never open for use even when it was brand new.

[monkeyajb]

No one should be surprised that the park remains closed and unusable. Until the ownership question is resolved, it will remain locked, unusable, and continuously frustrating. We should all make sure this remains Danielle's legacy in West Philly...

[Syrinx2112]

It's her shrine. Leave it as is...

[surfdog]

Some more links about the park:
Getting Grimey with Squirrel Hill (Falls) Park « Philly City Makes a Girl Gritty

Squirrel Hill Falls | West Philly Local

Squirrel Hill Falls Park Clean-Up Day | West Philly Tool Library

http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documen...s/05d1023p.pdf

[surfdog]

Some more links about the park:
Getting Grimey with Squirrel Hill (Falls) Park « Philly City Makes a Girl Gritty

Squirrel Hill Falls | West Philly Local

Squirrel Hill Falls Park Clean-Up Day | West Philly Tool Library

http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documen...s/05d1023p.pdf

[surfdog]

[seand]

Yeah in its current state, I can't imagine its as nice having your name on it.

"Wow Danielle you know how to design one heck of an overgrown construction debris dumping site."

Despite the various previous clean ups in the posts above, last I looked still various black contractor bags and bits of broken drywall.

The problem with a seldom used locked fenced lot in Philly is thats what happens over time. I feel like there are more clean ups than events there.

[Jayfar]

And she's managed to keep people pissed off at her for a couple decades. Here's a City Paper piece from 1996:

The Secret Garden

and another:

Nuts About Squirrel Hill Falls Park

Then there was the federal lawsuit she lost:

http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documen...s/05d1023p.pdf

[annie]

Walked by Danielle's house and heard the sound of water running. Her backyard has a (functioning, probably not solar-powered) water feature! Why couldn't she have just done that in the first place and left Squirrel Hill "Falls" alone?!

[Molly Pepper]

Walked by Danielle's house and heard the sound of water running. Her backyard has a (functioning, probably not solar-powered) water feature! Why couldn't she have just done that in the first place and left Squirrel Hill "Falls" alone?!

Why? Power, and the desire to have a private park across the street....christ Danielle's story is just gross

[seand]

The crazy thing is the land is owned by the apartment next door, which is in turn owned by Freinds Rehabilitation, a Quaker affordable housing non-profit. At this point I'd rather it just be some nice housing or (gasp!) digs for the co-op daycare that neighbors shut down zoning for a half a block away. Its so sad in its current state.

[thoth]

I tried explaining this to an out of town friend as we walked by and she commented on the fenced-in park. Even though I had familiarized myself with the general story through this thread, I might as well have just broken into a bout of free word association. My friend was left with more questions than answers. Easily the dumbest chapter in the neighborhood's history.

Anyone ever try contacting FRP? I'm still down to hack the lock off if you guys wanna provide some cover.

[seand]

I think FRP actually opens it up for the local (small) Quaker meeting that meets in Calvary to do periodic clean ups. Its just the accumulation of trash exceeds their ability to keep up. Someone else may have more details.

[thoth]

I think FRP actually opens it up for the local (small) Quaker meeting that meets in Calvary to do periodic clean ups. Its just the accumulation of trash exceeds their ability to keep up. Someone else may have more details.

??? Who the hell is dumping that much crap in there? I always assumed it was construction debris placed there by FRP temporarily. Some of the junk is pretty far from the fence, how does it get in there?

[annie]

The Underused Squirrel Hill Falls Park Frustrates a Neighborhood | NakedPhilly

Smith said a group, he is unsure who, or whether the group was formal or informal, used to care for the park when it was open. For it to be opened now, an incorporated group capable of covering the costs of maintenance and insurance would have to come forward, Smith said. He said FRP is open to exploring various options, including selling. He said they clean the lot when it becomes disastrous, and has not heard anything from interested neighbors beyond informal mentions of ideas.

Article is a rehash of PS threads and doesn't address the fact that, if a group were able to afford to open it, what the hell would anyone even do in there? It's a park of metal benches.

[Jayfar]

-deleted-

I was posting the same link as above, but I was reading through all the old CP articles before I got around to hitting post. :-)

[seand]

I'm going to say something shocking. Its privately owned land. Its not really a park. Which is why for liability reasons it was never really open even before it fell into disrepair.

Here's my terribly shocking proposal. Put some housing there and give up on the non-park "park" that can never really be open in a meaningful way and was designed to be a failure from the first. Concentrate city funds on improving the Kingsessing Rec Center a block and half away.

Radical sounding I know. Giving people a place to live in our neighborhood.

[seand]

I'm going to say something shocking. Its privately owned land. Its not really a park. Which is why for liability reasons it was never really open even before it fell into disrepair.

Here's my terribly shocking proposal. Put some housing there and give up on the non-park "park" that can never really be open in a meaningful way and was designed to be a failure from the first. Concentrate city funds on improving the Kingsessing Rec Center a block and half away.

Radical sounding I know. Giving people a decent place to rent an apartment in our neighborhood. Near a neighborhood transit hub where a trolley line, a major bus route and a regional rail all come together.