Schuylkill River Open Space Master Plan: From East Falls to Manayunk in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

7/27/2019 Schuylkill River Open Space Master Plan: From East Falls to Manayunk in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Sci Rivr op Spac mastr Pa

Fr east Fas t maa i Piapia, Psvaia

ExECUTivE SUMMARy

RoxboRough

LoweRM

eRion

Manayunk

east FaLLs


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2

the philadelphia building1315 walnut street

suite 900

philadelphia pa 19107

www.bkurbandesign.com

Pa prpar bIqiris, pas ctact:

Manayunk East Falls

Kay Sykora Gina [email protected] [email protected]

215-482-9565 x 206 215-848-8084


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many partners have contributed to this document. Teir contributions and insight are greatly appreciated.

Avisr Citt

Alce Ballard| East Falls resident; advocate or in-river swimmingJennfer Barr | Philadelphia Planning CommissionDenns Burton | Schuylkill Center or Environmental EducationStepane Cragead | Fairmount ParkJoanne Dame | Philadelphia Water DepartmentTom Dgnam | Philadelphia Department o Recreation

Jane Glenn | Manayunk Neighborhood CouncilJon Grad | East Falls Development CorporationCrs Leswng | Lower Merion ownshipTerr Lorng | Manayunk Development CorporationMattew McClure | East Falls Development CorporationDan Neducsn | Manayunk Development CorporationBob Swarbrck| Manayunk Development CorporationCaroln Sutton | East Falls Development CorporationKurt Zwkl | Schuylkill River Heritage Area

Prct Partrs

Sculkll ProjectKay Sykora, Executive Director

Gwen Cohen, Education Coordinator

East Falls Deelopment CorporatonGina Snyder, Executive Director

Manaunk Deelopment CorporatonLoree Jones, Executive Director

Spcia Tas t r Prct Spsr


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Wissahickon

Valley

Schuylkill River Trail Connections

Existing Trails

Planned Trails

Existing Trails

Undergoing Enhancement

Proposed Trails

Neighborhood Connections

Proposed Bike Lanes

Manayunk

East Falls

Venice

Island

Lower Merion

Flat Rock

Dam

West Laurel

Hill Cemetery

Westminster

CemeteryPencoydBridge

Blackie Bridge

(Norfolk Southern)

PA Rail

Bridge


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5

GOAL 3 | ENGAGE PEOPLE iN RivER ACTiviTiES

Acti Stps

Continueexistingeducationalopportunitiesandexpandprogramoerings. Supportexistingandcreatenewfestivalsandevents. Getpeoplewet-promoteopportunitiesforswimming,boatingandshing.

GOAL 1 | iMPROvE MOvEMENT ALONG ThE RivER

Acti Stps

Connectthetrailsystemwheretherearegaps.Improveandmaintainthequalityoftrails.Improvepedestrianandbicyclemovementonstreets.

GOAL 2 | CREATE GREAT PLACES ON ThE RivER

Acti Stps

Emphasizetheimportanceofgatewayareas,landmarksandriveraccesslandings.Improveopenspaceamenit iesalongtheriver.Ensurethatprivatedevelopmentrelatestotheriver.

A Visi Fr T Sci Rivr


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Cct t trai sst wr tr ar aps

Projects

Wissahickon Gateway trail connections waterfront access and trail

connections at the rivers edge in the area between the WissahickonCreek, the Pencoyd Bridge and the CVS drug store.

LinktoLowerMerionTownshipwithnewconnectionsonthe

Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge, Pencoyd Bridge and Norolk Southern

SpurBridgeatthetipofLowerVeniceIsland.

Biketrailinabandonedrailbedonriversideofthecanal.

Iprv a aitai t qait f trais

Projects

ImprovementsatthetrailheadtotheWissahickon-improvesignage,

update bus shelter, create link to bikeway across the street.

IntroductionofnewplantingsalongtheManayunkCanalTowpath.

Iprv pstria a bicc vt strts

Projects

Newon-streettrailsoneithersideofRidgeAvenuebetween

the Wissahickon Creek and the Ridge/Main ork.

TraccalmingonKellyDrivesothatpeoplecanmovebetweenthe East Falls Riverront Business District and the river.

Installationofwayndingsignagetohelppedestriansandcyclists

navigate through East Falls and the Wissahickon Gateway area.

GOAL 1ImPRoVe moVemenT Along The RIVeR

Te Schuylkill Project has the ollowing vision or the Schuylkill Riverront:

Te Schuylkill Riverfront will be a resource for

local neighborhoods and the region, tying together

riverfront communities through a connected system

of River rails, River Places and Neighborhood

Connections.

goAlS And ACTIon STePS

With the vision and goals in mind, this plan lays out a series o Action Steps,

which are recommendations or the creation and maintenance o a thriving

Schuylkill Riverront designed to address the key concerns or open space

developmentontheriver.AframeworkofthreeGoalsisusedtoorganize

theActionSteps.eseGoalsare1)Improvemovementalongandtothe

river; 2) Create great places on the river; 3) Engage people in river activities.

Tese goals and action steps are described in the ollowing pages.


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7

epasiz atwas, aars a rivr accss ais

Projects

Planned river docks in East Falls and Manayunk.

Restoration of Manayunk Canal locks and associated dredging.

CreationofgatewaysintoRoxboroughandEastFalls.

Iprv p spac aitis a t rivr

Projects

Improvedviewstorivercreatedbyselectivelyeliminatingovergrown

vegetation on the banks o the Wissahickon Creek.

Parkinglotsasariverfrontamenity,stressingthemanagementof

stormwaterandprotectionofwaterquality.

MidvaleStepsasanattractivestoppingpoint.

ImprovementstoInnYardPark.

esr tat privat vpt rats t t rivr

Projects

RedevelopmentoftheDuronPaints/self-storagesitetoariverfrontuse.

CreationofwaterfrontplazasatManayunkDinerandmovietheater.

PropertiesonManayunkCanaltoopendoorsonthecanalbasedon

existing design guidelines.

Negotiationwithdeveloperstobuildandmaintainrivertrailsaspartof

new developments.

GOAL 2CReATe gReAT PlACeS on The RIVeR

Cti xisti catia prras a xpa ffris

Projects

Restoration of the Bathey House as an information center along

the trail.

Continuationofsuccessfulwatershededucationwithschoolsincluding

Shawmont, St. Bridgets, Miin and Dobson and one community

center- the North Light Community Center. Expand reach to other

schools where possible.

Introductionofastormwatereducationprogramforchildren.

gt pp wt

Projects

Developmentofriverbusinessesincludingtoursandcanoeandshing

outtters.

In-riverswimmingfacilityatthetipofLowerVeniceIsland.

Spprt fstivas a vts a t rivr

Projects

ContinuationofsuccessfuleventsliketheEastFallsFishingFestival

and Arts by the River, the East Falls Bike Race Block Party, the

PhiladelphiaInternationalCyclingChampionship,ManayunkSecond

Saturdays and the Manayunk Arts Festival.

Neweventstogetpeopletotheriver.Possibleeventsincludea

Philadelphia tube race and a amily triathlon, which would incorporate

biking, canoeing and walking.

GOAL 3engAge PeoPle In RIVeR ACTIVITIeS


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PRiORiTy PROJECTWISSAhICkon gATeWAy TRAIl ConneCTIonS

Te most important gap in the trail system can be ound in the area between

theWissahickonCreekandthePencoydBridge.Infact,thereisnotsimply

asinglemissinglinkrather,thereareseveralgaps:

Asafebike/pedcrossingofWissahickonCreek

CrossinginfrontoftheSEPTATransferStationonRidgeAvenue

passes through waiting pedestrians

AcleartrailheadintotheWissahickontrails

AriversidetrailorsafetrailalongRidgeRoad

Opportunities to provide a trail are limited because the level land between the

riverandthesteephillsideparalleltoRidgeAvenueisquitenarrow.erefore,

any plausible resolution will occupy easements with the agreement o riverside

property owners including the Fairmount Park Commission, the Roxborough

Canoe Club, SEPA, PECO, and the owners to the Duron Paints property.

Overtheyears,potentialalignmentshavebeendiscussed.Infact,SEPTA

and PECO have agreed to let a multi-purpose trail cross their properties (with

certainprovisos).Inaddition,thereisawaterfrontaccesseasementinthe

tenant agreements with the owner o the commercial property.

Anidealarrangementwouldprovideachoiceofroutesfordierenttypes

o users, including a riverront alignment or recreational cyclists, a trail next

to the road on the south side o Ridge Avenue and saer sidewalks and bicycle

amenities on the north side o Ridge Avenue.

PcBri

BiSf-Stra

Ri Av.,St Si

PeCoSit

Bimvi Tatr

Ri Av.,nrt Si

Traia

k drivRap


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 9

OPTiONS FOR WiSSAhiCKON GATEWAy TRAiL CONNECTiONS

On roads and sidewalks:

Marked crosswalks, smart

crossings and sharrows can

help to promote ped/bike safety.

On-road trail: Alignment would

need to cross the Wissahickon

Creek, the SEPTA Transfer

Station and several driveways.

SEPTA

WiSSAh

iCKO

NC

REEK

DURON

PAiNTS

SELF-

STORAGE

PECO

MOviE

ThEATER

DiNER

Possible bridge and

pathway to bypass the

on-road alignment would

require a path through or

next to the PECO site.

There is plenty of waterfront

space to bring a trail behind the

movie theater and parking lots.

The waterfront trail and/or

on-road connections lead

to the Pencoyd Bridge,which connects to trails in

Montgomery County.

gr Rt: Rivrfrt Trai

R Rt: Ri Avmti-Prps Trai

ora Rt: o-RaP/Bi Aitis

Cyclists can ride on

Ridge Avenue as an

alternative link between

this area and the Kelly

Drive trail downriver.

GUSTiNE LAKE

iNTERChANGE

KELLy

DRivE

TRAiL

PennDOT bridge

removal will create

safer conditions

for pedestrians onRidge Avenue.

PENCOyDBRiDGE

The Self-Storage facility blocks

the waterfront trail connection.

Link to Lower

Merion Trails.


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R Rt: Ri Av

mti-Prps Trai

isalignmentwouldconnectthe Kelly Drive rail with

Manayunk without orcing cyclistsandpedestrianstocrosstrac.

isalignmentcouldbeinstalled as part o new potentialdevelopment on the site.

isalignmentwouldbehighlyvisible to anyone passing throughthe area.

gr Rt: Watrfrt Trai

isalignmentwouldmake

a direct visual and physical

connection with the Schuylkill

River.

isalignmentwouldbe

a preerred approach o

recreational trail users.

Publicwaterfrontaccesshasalready been negotiated with

property owners.

Bfr

Bfr Aftr

Aftr Ridge Avenue between Wissahickon

Creek and the Main Street split

Waterfront behind self-storage


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 11

ora Rt: Ri Av Bi/P Iprvts

isalignmentcouldbe

implementedquicklyandsimply.

Sharrowswillhelpbringvisibility

to cyclists on the road.

PennDOTremovalofbridgeand

thenewtraclightwillcreatesafer

conditions or pedestrians. Trailheadparkingcouldbe

integrated into this areaGateway to Roxborough

Gateway to East Falls

Bfr

Bfr

Aftr

Aftr


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PRiORiTy PROJECTeAST FAllS RIVeR ACCeSS lAndIng

A river access study was completed in 2006, which explored options or river

landingsinEastFallsandManayunk.InEastFalls,thepreferredwateraccess

point, north o the Falls Bridge, was envisioned as a scenic docking and launching

area or human-powered crat. Tis particular site is located where a gentle grade

downtotheriverexists.Aproposedriveraccesslandingherecanoerwide

steps that descend to the river. A new dock structure would be located at the

base o the steps and a secured platorm above beach level would be connected byahingedgangwayleadingtoaoatingdock.Inadditiontothesteps,agently

sloping path would lead those carrying a canoe or kayak to the waters edge.

PRiORiTy PROJECTRIVeR ACCeSS AT loWeR VenICe ISlAnd PARk

An important river access location in Manayunk occurs at the southern tip o

VeniceIsland.issitemarkstheconvergenceofthehistoricNorfolkSouthern

Spur Bridge, the end o the Manayunk Canal and the popular restaurant,ManayunkBrewery,whichoersriverfrontdecksoverthewater.eLower

VeniceIslandPark,ajointprojectofthePhiladelphiaWaterDepartmentand

Recreation Department that will break ground this all, will introduce a new

perormance center, sports acilities and parking lots to the island. Public river

access sites should be introduced as a part o park development.

For example, the existing boat launch, introduced on the river below the

Manayunk Brewery to serve kayakers, canoeists and dragon boat racers, should be

strengthenedthroughtheinstallationofamorepermanentstructureasspecied

intheManayunkRiverAccessStudy.Inaddition,aproposedin-riverswimmingfacilityforthetipofLowerVeniceIslandisbeingstudied.Patioscouldbebuilt

on the river banks near these boating and swimming acilities to provide seating,

views and other amenities.

Pt f xisti citis t str tip f Vic Isa

Rri f t prps rivr accss ai lwr Vic Isa i maa

Pa viw f t prps east Fas lai


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PRiORiTy PROJECTReSToRATIon oF mAnAyunk CAnAl loCkS

Locks 68, 69 and 70 raised were used to allow navigation by fat bottom boats

through the Manayunk canal on the Schuylkill River in the nineteenth century.

Once the canal became obsolete at the end o the nineteenth century, the locks ell

into disrepair.

Te Schuylkill Project, along with the Friends o the Manayunk Canal and the

Manayunk Development Corporation, are currently working to raise money to

restore Locks 68, 69 and 70 to their original unction. Tis restoration projectwill be accompanied with associated dredging along the length o the canal. With

the restoration o the locks, the groups will seek designation o the canal as a

National Landmark, in addition to its existing status as a National Historic Site.

PRiORiTy PROJECTBAThey houSe

eBatheyHouseinEastFallssitsonlandownedbyFairmountPark.Inthepast

the building housed a swimming pool, but it has sat vacant and unused or many

years. Te site is situated at the southeast gateway to East Falls, between KellyDrive and Ridge Avenue, just south o the win Bridges o Route 1.

Local community leaders and businesses see the empty Bathey House as an

opportunitytorevitalizetheEastFallsRiverfrontBusinessDistrict.Itsstrategic

location along the Kelly Drive rail, at the entrance to East Falls presents exciting

ideas or what could happen there. Plans or the renovation o the Bathey House

are underway. Sixty thousand dollars have already been raised through the

Schuylkill Project, along with $7,500 through the Pennsylvania Department o

Conservation and National Resources, $125,000 through the Delaware Valley

Regional Planning Commission, ake me to the River program and a grant

rom the Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area (SRNSHA) or aninormation kiosk. Te East Falls Development Corporation is partnered with a

private developer who will be bring a ood concessionaire and possibly bike rental

to the location. Tey also plan to partner with the East Falls Historical Society in

raising unds and renovating the building or public use.T Bat hs i east Fas

lcs 69 a 70


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CONNECTiNGPROJECT

ACCESSPROJECTS

LOCALATTRACTiON

PROJECTS

PRIoRITy PRojeCT CoST

gatwa ara $2 mllon for brdgetrai cctis & tral connecton;

$1.6 mllon for tral$200,000 Eng. Assesment

east Fas Rivr $450,000 - $700,000Accss lai

Pbic accss fr bati $850,000swii lwr Vic Isa

Rstrati f t $2 mllon for locksmaa Caa lcs $5 mllon for dredgng(a assciat ri)

Bat hs $400,000

Pririt Prcts, Csts a Iptati dtais


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AgenCy RelATed PlAnS ImPlemenTATIon deTAIlS

Farmount Park; Sculkll Project; Rdge Aenue Gatewa Plan Workng drawngs for te preferredSEPTA; PennDOT brdge opton ae been completed

b Urban Engneers.

PennDOT; Farmount Park; Rer Access Stud Prelmnar desgn stud as beenSculkll Project; Canoe Club completed. Net steps nclude

furter detalng and desgn, as wellas obtanng te necessar permttng.

Farmount Park; Sculkll Rer Rer Access Stud; Prelmnar desgn stud as beenNatonal and State hertage Area; in-rer Swmmng Feasblt Stud and completed. Net steps ncludeSculkll Project furter detalng and desgn, as well

as obtanng te necessar permttng.

Frends of Manaunk Canal, Workng drawngs ae beenManaunk Deelopment Corporaton completed b Pennon Assocates.

Applcaton for Natonal Landmarkstatus to occur wt completon ofrestoraton.

Farmount Park; East Falls Renoaton work must be completedhstorcal Socet; EFDC; SRSNhA before cafe and nformaton kosk

can be ntroduced.


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Documents

Schuylkill River Open Space Master Plan: From East Falls to Manayunk in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania