Pleasant improvements
on the waterfront

By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

Three months made a world of difference to the appearance of the city-owned boat ramp and pier on the Delaware River at Linden Avenue.
City officials connected with the revitalization of Pleasant Hill Park hope that the recent improvements will be equally successful in changing the mindset of many people who use the facility.
The Department of Recreation reopened the ramp and pier to the public on July 6 after completing the first phase of the six-phase upgrade project.
The improvements include a new grassy area and walking path along the river, new benches, dozens of new trees and, perhaps most important, new grassy "bio-swales" in the middle of a paved parking lot that reduce the area of impenetrable blacktop in the park by about 20 percent.
"They capture the stormwater before it gets to the river and captures some of the pollutants," said Barbara McCabe, the recreation department’s parks director. "It’s aesthetic and functional. (In the past) this used to be five acres of parking lot."
Four public grants paid for the $1.25 million phase. In September 2005, state Rep. Mike McGeehan helped the rec department get a state capital-fund appropriation of $500,000, while city Councilwoman Joan Krajewski helped the department get another half-million from the city.
On top of that, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission chipped in $125,000. Later on, the city’s Department of Health awarded the project $120,000 to pay for solar-powered lighting.
"We came in a little under budget, actually," said McCabe.
The changes were made to address several problems, both natural and human.
During storms, water had a tendency to flood the boat-ramp area and parking lot, leaving behind large amounts of litter and natural debris. Also, the floodwaters carried spilled automobile fluids and other pollutants from the lot out into the river.
The swales and a wider green strip along the river, as well as a new embankment of large rocks, are designed to absorb water and block debris.
The "human" problem in the park is the way that many folks traditionally have utilized the space. Previously, with the parking lot so close to the river, motorists could pull their cars right up to the bank to look out over the water.
"One of the main features of this phase was to reclaim the riverfront and give people this path to stroll along the river," McCabe said. "It’s great that people are actually walking on it.
"I’ve heard people say they’re disappointed they can’t park right on the river. But you can still park close, and the idea is to get people out of their cars."
Not everyone stays in their vehicles, however. Many people like to violate the ban on alcohol in the park, while others use the space late into the night, although it’s supposed to close to the public at 10 p.m.
Evidence of drinking was all over the place one morning last week — empty beer cans and bottles littered the facility, along with smashed liquor bottles. The park is still waiting on trash cans, although there are several Dumpsters for folks to use if so inclined.
"It amazes me that people don’t think twice about littering in a place like this," McCabe said.
Things could be better "if they would just clean up and not disturb others," she added. "What people need to get is ‘carry-in, carry-out.’ Whatever you bring, you leave with it."
The rec department official thinks that the police, neighbors and her colleagues need to contribute to protecting the park from abuse. Environmental education will be part of future programming at the park once later phases of the rehab are complete.
"We envision environmental education here to teach people to protect the environment. That’s part of the long-term vision," McCabe said.
Funding already has been approved for the second phase of the project. Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Department of Environmental Protection have teamed to award $850,000 to deepen and aerate existing fishing ponds in the park, add playground equipment and create a picnic grove area.
For two decades, the recreation department has run a children’s fishing program there, in which summer camps from all over the city visit to spend the day learning about the water and its inhabitants. ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com