Land Development Today - July/August 2007 - (Page U4)

Urban Green Franklin Square BY ROB KUNDERT Returns to Life Redevelopment of an historical park restores community pride and activity. Historic restoration took on new meaning for Pennoni Associates Inc., the engineering firm charged with reviving a legacy park – Franklin Square – in its history-rich hometown of Philadelphia. Franklin Square traces its roots to America’s earliest colonial days. In the century’s since, its eight-acre land mass has seen uses as a cemetery, the site of a Revolutionary War powder magazine, a livestock market, and later a gathering space for trendy promenades. As the city developed over the last century, it fell into disuse and became better known for drug use and prostitution. Inter-weaving the dreams and desires of civic organizations with the standards and regulations of governmental agencies, the firm has overseen a $6.5 million transformation of the space. It now sports a restored 19th century marble fountain, a vintage carrousel, and a host of visitor-friendly amenities, including a miniature golf course and modern playground. Perhaps most importantly, it has recaptured its place as a point of pride for the city. “It was basically unused before, except by vagrants and others,” said Thomas J. Friese, Civil/Site/Landscape Architecture Division Manager for Pennoni Associates Inc. “Now, with its adjacency to Independence Mall, the Constitution Center, and the Liberty Bell, it provides a place for families and individuals to go.” “In the 1800s, it was the ritzy place to be. We’ve seen pictures of women with their parasols walking around in the evening,” said Diana Mancini, senior landscape architect for the firm who worked on the project design. Rittenhouse Square, another of the city’s legacy greens, became popular leading to a migration of affluent people away from Franklin Square. When the Franklin Bridge was built across the Delaware River in the mid 1920s, vehicle traffic increased and the park became less popular. The spiral began. With low foot traffic, the park and it’s plethora of long established trees, was ideal for less favorable activity. The nation’s Bi-Centennial in 1976 brought the park some needed attention. “It was fixed up and the fountain was brought back to life somewhat,” Friese said. But it was soon forgotten. “They discovered a leak in the fountain and it was actually leaking onto the train (subway) tracks underneath. So they just shut it down and no one looked into the reasons why it was leaking so it was never fixed.” In the early 1990s a group called Once Upon a Nation was formed by thenmayor, Ed Rendell, to increase tourism. Its mission was to keep the city’s historic past alive, at first through story telling at locations in the community. The non-profit organization saw that the park was not being used and asked the Fairmount Park Commission, the quasi-governmental agency that owns the city’s park property, to improve what was there and introduce some of their historical information. Fueling support for the park’s revitalization was the booming condo market. “There was a large abandoned hospital right next door that was turned into condominiums. It’s at least 20 stories high, looking down on the park,” Mancini said. “So now there were brand new residences and all these new resi- dents next to this abandoned park. There was renewed interest for making the park into something these people could use.” Background of the Green William Penn was granted the land to become known as Pennsylvania by the British government in the 17th century. Franklin Square, originally called Northeast Square, was one of five open areas he designed into his capital city of Philadelphia in 1682. Its centerpiece fountain was built in 1838. Layers of Challenges Over more than three centuries, an open plot of land in an urban community will see a lot of uses. Franklin Park was no exception. Some posed unique challenges. In 1741 the First German Reformed Church, located near the green, asked permission for a portion of the park for a cemetery. “Over the years, somehow the park was filled with a few feet of soil, so the head stones are quite a few feet below the surface,” Mancini said. There was also a heritage growth of long-established trees that those at Once Upon a Nation wished to keep. The organization, based on a preliminary design, created a wish list of elements it wanted to see in the park. Most, like restoration of the fountain, play areas, new buildings, and the miniature golf course, made the cut to the finished work. Other projects like a large LED screen for movie viewing, a large spinning whirly gig, and balloon rides had to be trimmed. “Once Upon a Nation, as the client, had very grand ideas of what they wanted to do with the site. Fairmount Park being the owner had their ideas. They wanted the park left as much park-like as possible,” Mancini said. “Here in Philadelphia, we also have a reviewing agency, the Philadelphia Art 4 July/August 2007

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Land Development Today - July/August 2007

Cover Contents Our Voice: Industry Advocates Your Voice: Reader Response Cover Story: Preparing Your Tax Strategy The Rules of the Game Historical Redevelopment Project Profile: Seattle’s High Point Retention: From Ravine to Road Land Use: Picatinny Arsenal Mixed Use: Florida Offices Industry News Products/Services Showcase Classifieds Recommended Reading Advertiser Index Editorial Board The Last Word: What? Me Plan… Urban Development

Land Development Today - July/August 2007

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