Schuylkill River Trail: South to Christian Streets

Extending Philadelphia’s river recreational trail.

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Location: Philadelphia, PA

Client: Schuylkill River Development Corporation, Department of Parks & Recreation, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Size: 1,300 linear feet trail

Project status: Construction completed 2018.

Project team: Ground Reconsidered, Urban Engineers (prime)

Ground Reconsidered collaborated with the project’s engineers on the design of a 1,300-foot trail segment along the east bank of the Schuylkill River, stretched from South Street to Christian Street. This segment not only extends the trail south, but can be accessed by a new bridge over the railroad and viewed from the upper terraces of the Roberts Center for Pediatric Research to the east. The trail segment includes public plazas at either end which are used for fishing and small group gatherings. The central lawn echoes the open green spaces on the northern segments of the Schuylkill River Trail. A native plant meadow creates a riparian buffer along the river’s edge, helping to prevent erosion and manage stormwater.

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