Newbold Civic Association Presents Two Greening Plans at Guerin Rec Center
The Newbold Civic Association and the Philadelphia Water Department presented two potential plans for a stormwater reclamation project at Guerin Recreation Center at 2201 S. 16th St.
The plans seek to beautify and green a large asphalt patch in the southeast corner of the facility.
The main difference between the two plans seems to be the size of the green space. One plan would remove all of the pavement and convert the Wolf Street side to park space and an underground stormwater storage bed. The other plan would partially remove the pavement and create a smaller green space with a stormwater management system that fronts Wolf Street.
Levana Layendecker of the Newbold Community Development Corporation told us that “about 50 people” showed up to the meeting to hear about the plans and offer ideas for potential uses for the proposed space. Currently, the sea of asphalt is used as a parking lot for events at the rec center and isn’t open to the public. Layendecker also noted that there was a “vocal minority” of people who would prefer the space for public parking.
According to Layendecker, the space is large enough for multiple uses. Ideas from attendees included a dog park, community garden and even a bocce court. It could also be an open park space.
Both plans include the placement of an underground water storage bed at the Jackson Street entrance as well as a one at the side the fronts Wolf Street.
So, which plan do you like best?
Plan 1:
Plan 2:
Definitely choice 1. More green. Less asphalt.
And I’d say they should probably push the green into what appears to be a swath of concrete left along 16th Street.
I don’t know why they don’t try and rent parking spaces to people in the neighborhood for when there are no events at the rec center… It would help fund some maintenance and updates in and around the place… “Vocal minority” is probably just another way to ignore the realities that people DO want more parking and parking IS still important to city dwellers… McDonald’s isn’t adding a second drive through lane because people are all on bicycles… LoL
But since most new development is in denial about parking, I’d agree that “more green less asphalt” is the way to go… If the asphalt isn’t being put to its best use, it should definitely be green space..
the asphalt along 16th is being left in place for event parking. Kudos to PWD for working hard to listen to all concerns and do their best to incorporate them.
More green, less asphalt. I’ve been waiting for this for years! So excited.
Definitely Plan 1.Maybe add a small sprayground instaed of a pipe sticking up out of the concrete too.
Voting #1 – It’s a rec center, so the more green space there is, the more actual rec can happen for kids. I walk by there everyday with my dog, and it’s honestly the saddest non-use of land. So happy to finally see some folks considering better usages for land!