A number of organizations are coming together to create a skatepark to complement other efforts spearheaded by the Schuylkill River Development Corporation to revitalize the once-neglected tract of land along the eastern bank of the Schuylkill River.
"It will help with access to the river park and also ... it will bring more users to the riverfront. A big part of what we want to do is to bring recreation back to the river, and the skatepark will be a great partner in doing that," said Tracy Childress, Director of Community Development for the SRDC.
The goal of the project is not just to create a skatepark, but a comprehensive recreational facility that will provide an outlet for active Philadelphia residents in addition to contributing to the physical appearance of the area.
"This isn't your typical skatepark project, this isn't the concrete island in the middle of a field," said Anthony Bracali, one of the architects involved in the project. "This is going to invite other uses besides skateboarding."
Organizers plan on making the skate park into a "multi-user, multi-activity" facility. According to Tracy Agha of community outreach organization Qualified Women in Construction, planners want to utilize the location to create a urban recreation area for individuals and families.
The plan for the Schuylkill River Skatepark Project was unveiled to the public in the second week of January. The key players in the project are a design corporation, a local landscape architect, a skatepark design company and a multimedia design company.
"We had a very extensive community outreach. We held four meetings in different neighborhoods in Philadelphia where we presented our concepts to the community," Bracali said.
The team of companies will continue to collect feedback from Philadelphia residents regarding the design of the park.
"They're doing a good job in being very diligent and having multiple meetings so that potential users from across the city have an opportunity to share in the design process," Childress said.
College sophomore Bianca Grecu thinks the skatepark is a great idea. "I'm very excited," Grecu said. "It's really good that they're looking to create more green space. It would probably be used a lot."
Other students who skateboard or bike ride regularly agree.
"It would be really nice to have a place ... to bike and skateboard. I'd go down there a couple times I'd imagine," Engineering junior Patrick Carroll said.
Engineering senior James Aslaksen, who has been to skateboard parks in other areas, said he would visit the skatepark for the general atmosphere.
"When you can watch people try to do tricks, it can have a kind of convivial atmosphere," Aslaksen said. "I'd imagine I'd be more interested as a spectator rather than a participant."
Aslaksen was also pleased to see a new attraction that will encourage students to venture off campus.
"I can definitely see something like this [attracting students] because it would be unique to the area," Aslaksen added.
