Land Development Today - July/August 2007 - (Page U6)

ity of the runoff in one corner of the park. In another, it used an existing brick culvert. “The basin in the southeastern portion of the site has a slower rate of release, the old brick pipe to the northwest is purely rate controled. Two basins handle the stormwater problem,” Friese said. It took a little study to deal with the cemetery. Historic documents showed approximately where it was located. A good portion of it was removed in the 1930s following a court case. Meanwhile, an underground rail system had been built through the area. “We knew everything in that swathe had been disturbed. It was sort of a safe zone,” Friese said. “They did find markers during excavation. Three or four feet down, they ran into some big, flat, table type stones. At one point there was a whole series of head stones somebody had used to line a sidewalk.” An archeologist was on hand to investigate unusual circumstances, such as changes in soil consistency, part of a grave site or remains. “Then everything stops. They get down there with a brush and spoon and start excavating, brushing away and making sure that they were accurately recorded and measured so there was a record of what was there,” Friese said. Luckily, much of the work was shallow, above any graves sites. “We were either above them or running along side. I don’t think the coroner ever got involved, but the archeologist recorded the information,” he said. While the firm worked its way through these issues, the clock was ticking. The project was to have gotten underway in March 2006. It didn’t get going until May because of delays for design changes and permitting. Meanwhile, the historic significance of the project meant that celebrations were already scheduled involving the governor, mayor, and various dignitaries, all of whom had schedules to keep. “The construction manager did an excellent job of really getting the construction done in about tw-thirds the time they were supposed to have,” Friese said. Worth it Completed in August 2006, the park is now a show piece highlighted by its restored marble fountain. It was completely disassembled. Its marble walls and iron railings were restored. The pumps were replaced and a new basin brought in. “So the fountain looks the same as it did in our historic photos, but with all new equipment,” Mancini said. A replica carousel patterned after those in the city’s historic past and the miniature golf course hold historic ref- erences to the city, some from the more recent past. “In one place, when you hit a golf ball up and if it goes in one spot, it plays the ‘Rocky’ theme,” Friese said, referring the 1970s boxing movie classic set in Philadelphia. There’s a modern playground and new buildings, including the rehabilitation of the park’s restroom facility. Though plans to revitalize the park were initially elaborate, a priority was placed on the existing trees. “We put the elements in the park and only lost ten of the mature trees, which I thought was just great,” Mancini said. New plantings are native to southeastern Pennsylvania to prevent problems with invasive species and to make sure they can deal with its winters and hot dry summers. Even the lawn was renovated and an irrigation system installed. “Once Upon a Nation has a full time staff there to keep an eye on things, take care of the fountain, the irrigation system, and make sure everything is very well maintained,” Mancini said, to prevent a repeat of the past. “It was a challenge but we saw it as an important project for the city and an important project for the company to be involved in such a high profile project,” Friese said. “To be working on one of the five William Penn Squares is a credit to our landscape group.” SUR About the author: Rob Kundert is a veteran reporter and frequent contributor to Sustainable Urban Redevelopment. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennoni Associates Inc., was founded by C.R. “Chuck” Pennoni in 1966. Today it has more than 20 offices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, New England, Tennessee, Maryland, and New York. With more than 800 employees, the firm provides consulting engineering services in areas that range from transportation, civil/municipal, surveyors to mechanical, plumbing, environmental and landscape architects. The company also offers underwater inspections, known as the Pennoni Navy. 6 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

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.