The first phase of the Philadelphia Rail Park has opened on a former railroad viaduct in Center City
PHILADELPHIA, PA—Following in the footsteps of New York City's famed High Line park, Philadelphia has opened Phase One of the Philly Rail Park. The current phase of the project occupies part of “The Viaduct,” an elevated section of unused rail line extending from 1300 Noble Street, east of North Broad Street, and arcing south toward Callowhill Street onto the elevated Viaduct.
The Rail Park plan envisions a three-mile linear park running along two former Reading Railroad lines just north of Center City Philadelphia.
When complete, the park will stretch across 50 city blocks, connecting 10 neighborhoods to Fairmount Park, Center City, and some of Philadelphia's most important cultural institutions. The Rail Park will serve as a series of linked neighborhood parks, a shared public space, and a destination for visitors from near and far.
Take a video tour of the Philadelphia Rail Park's first phase with correspondent Steve Lubetkin, in the video below. If you do not see a video player below, click here to view the video.
Designed by Studio Bryan Hanes and Urban Engineers, the first section of the Rail Park took 19 months to build, and is now home to 1,100 plants, 11 types of trees, 30 varieties of perennials, and gorgeous environmental graphics by Cloud Gehshan.
There are two entrances to Phase One of the park: a handicapped-accessible entrance along Noble Street on the bridge over 13th Street, and a staircase on Callowhill Street between 11th and 12th Streets.
Maintenance and programming will be a joint effort between Center City District, Friends of the Rail Park, and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
Other sections planned for the Rail Park include “The Cut,” and “The Tunnel.”
The Cut is an open air section of land that runs below street level, connecting the Viaduct to the Tunnel. The Cut runs from North Broad Street near the old Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper building to behind the Rodin Museum, where 22nd Street meets Pennsylvania Avenue. The Cut is lined with 30-foot high stone walls and is crossed by a series of bridges that support the city's north and south bound streets.
The Tunnel is a wide space extending 3,000 feet underneath Pennsylvania Avenue from 22nd to 27th Streets. Open air shafts in the streetscape above illuminate the space with natural light, while the high stone walls and vaulted brick ceilings reach 25 feet in height.
Pets are welcome. The park is free and open daily from 7am–10pm.
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Steve Lubetkin
Steve Lubetkin is the New Jersey and Philadelphia editor for GlobeSt.com. He is currently filling in covering Chicago and Midwest markets until a new permanent editor is named. He previously filled in covering Atlanta. Steve’s journalism background includes print and broadcast reporting for NJ news organizations. His audio and video work for GlobeSt.com has been honored by the Garden State Journalists Association, and he has also been recognized for video by the New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He has produced audio podcasts on CRE topics for the NAR Commercial Division and the CCIM Institute. Steve has also served (from August 2017 to March 2018) as national broadcast news correspondent for CEOReport.com, a news website focused on practical advice for senior executives in small- and medium-sized companies. Steve also reports on-camera and covers conferences for NJSpotlight.com, a public policy news coverage website focused on New Jersey government and industry; and for clients of StateBroadcastNews.com, a division of The Lubetkin Media Companies LLC. Steve has been the computer columnist for the Jewish Community Voice of Southern New Jersey, since 1996. Steve is co-author, with Toronto-based podcasting pioneer Donna Papacosta, of the book, The Business of Podcasting: How to Take Your Podcasting Passion from the Personal to the Professional. You can email Steve at [email protected].
