I feel a growing interest in what comes next.
The 2001 Revitalization Master Plan for Clark Park spelled out millions
of dollars in longterm improvements (a timeframe looking ahead to 2050),
which should be addressed piecemeal, as funds become available. Several
longstanding sore spots -- the tot lot, the older playground and the
basketball court -- have now been remediated, to universal satisfaction.
After the North Park reconstruction gets digested (it'll take a couple
of years to see how it needs to be finished off), what is the next
priority? I think it should be in the Middle and South Park. Two
suggestions:
(1) Restoring grass to the Bowl: can it be done, and what will it take?
Drainage and compaction issues are complex. Several agents who thought
they could just sow a few grand worth of seed there and get great
results have tried, and failed. Serious (six-figure) reconstruction may
be needed. Professional study is required.
(2) Creating a southern plaza out of the current Kingsessing parking
lot. Surely this isn't the best use of scarce park space! But delicate,
long-term economic and political interests are involved. This likely is
a 10-year project.
Friends of Clark Park will be soliciting community input on this
question in the months to come.
-- Tony West
The Friends of Clark Park is pleased to announce that we have definite
start-dates for our long-awaited reconstruction of Park A (the section
between Baltimore and Chester). The project will commence during the
week of August 9th, 2010.
We had hoped to have the project start after Labor Day, However, the
city's contractor has other projects after ours, and he wants to get a
good, early start. So, the project start date's been moved up a month.
Needless to say, we'll be working hard to get the word out to
everyone.
As we understand it, the entire Park A section will be roped off, and
will be closed for use until the project's done, which should be by
mid-November. We have been coordinating with the planners of the
major, planned events (the Farmer's Market, the Uhuru flea markets) to
relocate to Park B. The less formal activities-- chess playing, drum
circle, volleyball-- should have no problems relocating to other areas
of the park for the duration.
This project has been in the works for a long time, and we are
extremely happy that the perfect storm of planning and funding has
happened. We are grateful for the support we've received from the
community, as well as the efforts provided by UC Green, the
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the HMS School, the University
City District, the Department of Recreation, and the State of
Pennsylvania, as well as the work of many FOCP members past and
present.
Eventually, we'll have more information out to the public via our
website and other media. In the meantime, get ready for a long-awaited
renovation for Clark Park.
Brian Siano
Vice-President
Friends of Clark Park
http://www.clarkpark.info
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