While most Philadelphians have been awaiting the redesign of Love Park, plans to renovate Columbus Square Park at 12th and Wharton have also been afoot for two years as community organizers worked to raise the estimated $2.8 million the project would cost.
Those efforts have finally hit their goal, according to the Passyunk Post, with a grant coming from the William Penn Foundation and additional funding from the Passyunk Avenue Revitalization Corporation. Proceeds from community fundraisers also helped project organizers hit their target and construction is expected to begin in 2017.
The overall goal of the project is to bring a series of improvements to the park that will create a more connected, spacious and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere for residents, as shown in the proposed site plan below.
The Columbus Square project ("Park" will be dropped from the name) is divided into five areas: the rec center, the dog park, the patio, the athletic fields, and the lawn.
Among the highlights are a larger dog run, better-contained athletics fields (which are heavily used by both kids and adults), a renovated patio area along 13th Street, a new entrance at 12th and Reed streets, and paths connecting all corners of the park. The dog park areas will also get a new antibacterial grass surface to keep the area more sanitary.
The Columbus Square Advisory Council received professional design services from the Community Design Collaborative.
Learn more about the project here.