U.Penn advances construction plans
Janhavi Purohit
Issue date: 3/13/09 Section: News
The University of Pennsylvania is expected to begin construction on its newly announced Penn Park, located on 14 acres of asphalt parking lots previously owned by the United States Postal Service, according to Julie McWilliams from the University's Communications department.
The land, purchased at about $12.6 million, will be converted into four athletic fields, 12 tennis courts, an elevated pedestrian walkway and a raised central plaza.
The land for the park is bound by Walnut and South streets, as well as the Schuylkill River and Penn's main campus. Access to the park will be available from Walnut Street, lower 31st Street and Franklin Field.
According to McWilliams, construction is set to begin this coming spring, and plans continue for the park, despite economic concerns.
"We have slowed down with some of the things we wanted to have accomplished," McWilliams said.
Plans for the park, however, remain on schedule, with construction expected to begin this coming spring with a spring 2011 completion date.
According to a press release from the university, the park will connect to Penn's current athletic fields, and will total 24 acres of space upon completion.
According to an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Anne Papageorge, vice president for Facilities and Real Estate at Penn, said the project is beneficial to the University City area.
"We're removing a brownfield, an eyesore. We're doing this in a sustainable way. We're using native vegetation and trees," Papageorge said.
According to the university, the park is part of a 30-year plan called Penn Connects, which aims to link the university to Center City and vice versa. The goal of the plan is to effectively connect Penn's campus with downtown Philadelphia, as well as bring it closer to the Schuylkill River.
"There is an experience in Center City, then there is this big void, and then you come to Penn. What we are really trying to do is create a seamless transition from Center City to Penn and University City," Papageorge said.
Gutmann said the acquisition of Penn's first plot of land designed to remain as open space will have significant environmental benefits for both the campus as well as the University City area.
The total cost of construction for Penn Park is estimated at about $40 million.
The land, purchased at about $12.6 million, will be converted into four athletic fields, 12 tennis courts, an elevated pedestrian walkway and a raised central plaza.
The land for the park is bound by Walnut and South streets, as well as the Schuylkill River and Penn's main campus. Access to the park will be available from Walnut Street, lower 31st Street and Franklin Field.
According to McWilliams, construction is set to begin this coming spring, and plans continue for the park, despite economic concerns.
"We have slowed down with some of the things we wanted to have accomplished," McWilliams said.
Plans for the park, however, remain on schedule, with construction expected to begin this coming spring with a spring 2011 completion date.
According to a press release from the university, the park will connect to Penn's current athletic fields, and will total 24 acres of space upon completion.
According to an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Anne Papageorge, vice president for Facilities and Real Estate at Penn, said the project is beneficial to the University City area.
"We're removing a brownfield, an eyesore. We're doing this in a sustainable way. We're using native vegetation and trees," Papageorge said.
According to the university, the park is part of a 30-year plan called Penn Connects, which aims to link the university to Center City and vice versa. The goal of the plan is to effectively connect Penn's campus with downtown Philadelphia, as well as bring it closer to the Schuylkill River.
"There is an experience in Center City, then there is this big void, and then you come to Penn. What we are really trying to do is create a seamless transition from Center City to Penn and University City," Papageorge said.
Gutmann said the acquisition of Penn's first plot of land designed to remain as open space will have significant environmental benefits for both the campus as well as the University City area.
The total cost of construction for Penn Park is estimated at about $40 million.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 10
Bill
posted 3/13/09 @ 9:28 AM EST
Drexel take note, Penn is on to something. I for one would love to see Penn and Drexel both expand towards Center City, and towards eachother. How nice would it be if Drexel and Penn worked together to make this happen instead of always trying to out-do eachother?
Not Barak Obama
posted 3/26/09 @ 3:22 PM EST
"There is an experience in Center City, then there is this big void, and then you come to Penn. What we are really trying to do is create a seamless transition from Center City to Penn and University City," Papageorge said. (Continued…)
anon
posted 4/01/09 @ 10:06 PM EST
Void means Drexel?
No way...he means the space immediately on either side of the river. Drexel is to the north while center city is to the east...he's talking about that area where the post office building was and around the south street bridge area. (Continued…)
Kevin
posted 4/02/09 @ 1:16 PM EST
Nah, I am pretty sure Drexel is the void. Also, Karan, do you really think the new gym is "bang for the buck"? Maybe some better faculty and buildings would be a much better "bang for the buck" compared to a gym extension which easily could wait. (Continued…)
anon
posted 4/17/09 @ 10:04 AM EST
u mad, kevin?
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