Penn Park opens Thursday

[rojnish]

New park at Penn offers open space for all Philadelphians
By Jennifer Lin, Sep. 13, 2011
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/lo...delphians.html

Quote:
The newest 14 acres of the University of Pennsylvania used to be a parking lot for a fleet of mail trucks.

Two years and more than $46 million later, Penn has transformed that wedge of land into a green welcome mat that extends all the way to the Schuylkill.

On Thursday, the university will open Penn Park, the centerpiece of a long-term effort to grow the 283-acre campus from its historic core near 34th and Walnut Streets.

"It's the first time that, by design, we've set aside open space for the use of the Penn community and beyond," said Amy Gutmann, Penn's president. "It's an open, accessible, green, people-friendly connection between Center City and West Philadelphia."

[onlyone]

24 acres, 22 of which are varsity athletic fields. I get really annoyed that they keep calling this a "gift to the people of Philadelphia" or whatnot.

[boognish]

You're right, it was much better when it was a gigantic parking lot.

[Poweltonian]

Negadelphians rule. Only in Philadelphia would people complain about this tremendous asset. Yes, it will be used by Penn. Why wouldn't it be? But this project is a major step in closing the divide between University and Center Cities. With Drexel's longterm plans to expand towards 30th Street and continued development by Brandywine, this part of the city is going to be the gem of Philadelphia.

[longtimephilly]

I'm excited. I plan on hanging out there thursday or friday. I'd rather see these large spaces used for something rather than nothing.

[onlyone]

I'm not negative about most development, but this one has been so co-opted by the varsity teams it's hard for me to get excited. Glad to see people are pumped about it though, and hopefully it'll get a lot of use.

[MariusPontmercy]

Are the soccer pitches open to the public?

[Jerry19127]

Negadelphians rule. Only in Philadelphia would people complain about this tremendous asset. Yes, it will be used by Penn. Why wouldn't it be? But this project is a major step in closing the divide between University and Center Cities. With Drexel's longterm plans to expand towards 30th Street and continued development by Brandywine, this part of the city is going to be the gem of Philadelphia.

Flat green grass is a gem? There's enough f^%&n green space in PHL. It looks slightly prettier on the drive up from the god-awful 676 drive from the airport . Whoop dee doo! It's a prime spot that should have garnered some attention from private investment but alas there is virtually none here that doesn't involve residential (10 yr abatement) and non-profits.

[longtimephilly]

Flat green grass is a gem? There's enough f^%&n green space in PHL. It looks slightly prettier on the drive up from the god-awful 676 drive from the airport . Whoop dee doo! It's a prime spot that should have garnered some attention from private investment but alas there is virtually none here that doesn't involve residential (10 yr abatement) and non-profits.

I was really pissed about parklets, then I read that they weren't paid for by our tax dollars.

Neither is this space, so there's no reason to be upset about it really. Check it out for yourself.

[gren]

Flat green grass is a gem? There's enough f^%&n green space in PHL. It looks slightly prettier on the drive up from the god-awful 676 drive from the airport . Whoop dee doo! It's a prime spot that should have garnered some attention from private investment but alas there is virtually none here that doesn't involve residential (10 yr abatement) and non-profits.

Wait, didn't it garner some attention from private investment? And didn't that private investment buy it and turn it into a park?

[boognish]

I can't understand how Penn, the entity that owns the property, is allowed to increase the amount of green space on its campus! Even though the ground underneath was pure shifting fill, which would add multiple layers of compexity and cost to anyone looking to build a large structure there, Penn should have leased the land to someone who would build a huge skyscraper on it. After all, Philadelphia is sorely lacking office space. Oh, and a parking lot on that land, would really have looked nice. You'd have to have a parking lot since there's no where else to park around there.

Thanks for setting us all straight, Jerry. I forgot that it's on your way, via 676, to the airport. And there's so much green space in University City and Center City that this is likely to be yet another eyesore, unlike a building developed by private investment. They always enhance our lives. Despite the fact that you'll never utilize any of the fields or bike paths unlike the folks who live there, I think your complaints are valid and well-thought out. Thanks again little urban planner!

[helix]

you rule boognish

---

hey Jerry . . . feeble post man


eagerly waiting your next contribution to this thread; want to see some numbers/stats that support your argument


thanks!

[mixiboi]

I love the newbies..We need more newbies....

[seand]

Penn owns it. Its almost all fields for Penn with "some" public access granted. In 50 years when they are busting at the seems they can get rid of the fields and build to their hearts content there. Its called "private property". A private university doing what it wants with private land it smartly bought as an investment for the future. Oh the horror of it.