U. breaks ground on Penn Park

Penn President Amy Gutmann (center) and other University administrators broke ground Friday on the $46 million construction of Penn Park.

Thanks to a $46 million expansion project, the now-desolate riverfront land wedged between Walnut and South Street will be transformed into a vibrant green oasis and state-of-the-art athletics facility. Penn Park — the centerpiece of the University’s Eastern expansion project — is now officially under construction.

The University broke ground Friday on the 24-acre development that will house three multipurpose turf fields, 12 tennis courts and a pedestrian walkway by its projected completion date of 2011.

At the ground-breaking ceremony, Penn President Amy Gutmann spoke to the significance of Penn Park for the University and for the city of Philadelphia.

“Penn Park will weave the eastern edge of campus into the daily fabric of Center City and will transform campus for generations to come,” she said.

Penn Park will encompass 14 acres purchased from the U.S. Postal Service in 2007 as well as 10 acres the university previously owned.

In addition to increasing campus green space by over 20 percent, Penn Park will act as a physical symbol of Penn’s connection to the city of Philadelphia, which University architect David Hollenberg cited as a primary aim of the park’s design.

It will have pedestrian access from the north via Walnut Street and from the west through the Paley Bridge, making it open for use by the surrounding community.

According to the Athletic Department, the fields will be available for recreational use as well as for scheduled practices. Also, a seasonal air structure will make one field functional year round.

Project director Edward Sidor calls the design “an incredible integration of civil engineering and landscape architecture.”

For instance, Penn Park will complement the University’s Climate Action Plan by incorporating native trees and grasses and a rainwater storage and recycling system.

At a time when funding for public projects is visibly down, the fact that Penn is able to go forward with such a large scale venture shows that “Penn is clearly on the move,” incoming Chair of Trustees David Cohen said.

Comments (3)

Car hire in Rome itself is of little value as the public transport system means the city is easily accessible. There is, however, a ring road surrounding the city which connects to a major road called the Autostrada del Sole, and Rome can be the ideal means of getting out of the city and exploring the sights to the north or south.

Rome car hire can be the ideal means of getting out of the city and exploring the sights to the north or south...

will allow you take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, perhaps to Palestrina, which is small town concealing the ruins of a large temple; or to Cerveteri, which is an Etruscan city for the dead, providing them with tombs styled as houses in the serene countryside. If you'd like to see the sea, your car rental can take you to Terracina, an old town, with a long sandy beach as well as a ruined Roman temple, or to Sperlonga, which also blends the seaside with archaeology. And wine lovers will adore a trip to Frascati, which is a beautiful hill town and home to the wine of the same name.

Use our price comparison tool to find cheap , before booking online in advance to reserve your vehicle and rate. Depending on whether you wish to brave the Roman traffic or just use the car for the odd day trip, you may want to also consider airport pick up.

Argentina Soccer Association) to create a high-tech deterrent to soccer thugs that will include biometric scanners and electronic cards with personal information as a requirement to attend a soccer match. According to the Reuter’s translation of the AFA's proposal, "Anyone who wants to go to a soccer stadium must be registered on a database and possess a magnetic card which includes their name, photo, document number, and fingerprints." The article also points out that, given the crumbling state of many Argentine soccer stadiums, it's hard to imagine their implementing such a high-tech solution with any efficacy.

This is a great new addition to the campus and it is going to be built in no time. Thanks Kanesha

Comments are closed for this item.