East Torresdale
discusses Pleasant Hill

By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

Philadelphia’s Department of Recreation is well into the planning stages of the second phase of rehabilitating Pleasant Hill Park in East Torresdale.
But the department still has some fixing-up to do on the first phase, which was supposed to be completed last summer.
Recreation officials have determined that a series of grassy water-retention and filtration basins created amid the vast parking lot adjacent to the Linden Avenue boat ramp aren’t working properly.
The so-called bio-swales are collecting rainwater, but they’re not draining properly, so they’ve become permanent pits of mush rather than aesthetically pleasing environmental devices.
"Some improvement work started last season in the parking-lot area, and there have been some problems with the drainage basins," Barbara McCabe, the recreation department’s director of parks, told residents at the East Torresdale Civic Association meeting on March 10.
The boat ramp and parking-lot area were closed to the public for three months last spring and summer while workers carried out the $1.25 million phase.
The construction area reopened in early July with a new green strip and walking path along the Delaware River, refurbished boat ramp and fishing pier, benches, lighting, reconfigured parking area and the water basins.
The basins are intended to catch rainwater and pollutants in the parking lot before they flow directly into the adjacent river. Also, the basins are supposed to reduce or prevent flooding of the lot when the river overflows its banks.
Engineers are still working on the drainage problem, McCabe said.
Also, the recreation department has yet to install the solar street lamps that were supposed to be part of the first phase. The city’s health department put up $120,000 last year to fund that aspect of the project.
The recreation department also received a state capital-fund appropriation of $500,000, a city appropriation of $500,000 and a Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission grant of $125,000 for the first phase.
The second phase of the project will include restoration of fishing ponds in the "fish hatchery" section of the park along Linden Avenue, closer to State Road, McCabe said. The ponds will be deepened and aerated.
Other elements will include new walkways, lighting, fencing, playground equipment and a picnic area. There may be a new parking element in the phase.
McCabe also announced that the recreation department is looking for young people, ages 14 to 21, to take part in a paid internship this summer with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in Pleasant Hill Park.
Only about a half-dozen spots are available. Participants work 20 hours a week for six weeks in the park, learning lessons about environmental management and participating in hands-on projects like tree-planting. Wages vary depending on the age of the participant. Call 215-683-3600 for information.
Philadelphia Police Officer Joe Hansbury, community relations officer in the 8th district, reported that the boat-ramp area is among several high priorities for local police this spring and summer. Cops will look to stop illegal drinking and after-hours trespassing in the park, which closes officially at 10 p.m.
Neighbors asked Hansbury to extend the target area to the 9200 and 9300 blocks of Delaware Ave., because revelers often move there and cause problems when the park gates close.
Other residents complained about a recent increase in illegal drag racing on State Road, near Linden Avenue. Hansbury advised residents to call 911 whenever they see racing. He also said he’d report the problem to supervisors in the district.
Neighborhood residents living close to Interstate 95 spoke out against rumored plans by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to erect sound barriers along one side of the highway. Noise would only get worse for folks on the open side of the interstate because a sound wall would echo sound in their direction, they believe.
Bernie Reidenberg, ETCA first vice president, said that concerned residents could ask state Sen. Mike Stack about PennDOT’s plan when he is the scheduled speaker for the April 14 civic meeting. ••
ETCA meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at Liberty Evangelical Free Church, Linden Avenue and Milnor Street.
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com