It's not a complete makeover, but the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be spruced up over the next three years, thanks to $17 million in state, city, and private money announced Thursday afternoon.
"It is an incredible avenue!"
Governor Rendell stood in the middle of the Ben Franklin Parkway as he announced a plan to make it an even more incredible avenue.

He said that $6½ million in state money, the same amount from the city, and more than $4 million from three private philanthropies will fund work slated to begin next year:
"This is a great day because we're going to take what has been given to us by prior generations -- this incredible parkway -- and we're going to make it even better."
Rendell said the changes include improvements to traffic flow by Penndot, better sidewalks and lighting, and a renovation of the east side of Logan Square, facing the Basilica:

"And we're not stopping here. We're going to go all the way down to City Hall, and the Dilworth Plaza project, and make this entire stretch even more beautiful and even better."

The Dilworth Plaza renovation is not included in this project, but could involve leveling that plaza on the west side of City Hall and installing a café and skating rink.

Work is expected to be completed by 2011.

http://www.kyw1060.com/It-s-Official...arkway/2617105

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Phillyweather.net
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But where will the homeless feeding truck park?

I am thrilled to hear this...will be very interested to hear more details. I was pleased to hear they'll be focusing on the Rodin Museum front and the area around the Basilica (aka the "campground").

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Adlerian PLEASE SEEK ANOTHER THERAPIST, this one IS NOT WORKING

Here's more info.

http://www.pewtrusts.org/news_room_detail.aspx?id=41550

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Dave you are the sazon to my rice n' beans
You are the rum to my mojito and the tequila to my margarita

Candy Galore

Am a Tree Hugger

I luv Candy

Why is traffic flow a problem on a road that has 6 lanes of traffic each way? Has Ed Rendell ever tried walking from Fairmount to the Logan Square area? It's quite interesting looking at the way the pedestrian walkways and corresponding sidewalks are laid out. But since distance can't be helped, it would be best to get as many smaller-scale attractions in that median area as possible. A couple of restaurants like the one at the Comcast plaza would be interesting. I could picture one in the vicinity of the Rodin Museum. But I suppose the infrastructure on JFK Blvd. was in place to make that happen. Might be more of an engineering feat to bury a couple of kitchens in the Parkway.

isn't there a new cafe coming soon to the Parkway, close to Longan Sq?

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New term of the day 1/24:
Electile Dysfunction: The inability to become aroused over any of the choices for President put forth by either of only parties in the 2008 election year.
http://www.votenader.org/index.html


5/22, because i'm feeling punny:
As the great Jedi English teacher was quoted in saying, "metaphors be with you."

it's closer to Love Park.

If you look at the PDF

http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFil...%20Parkway.pdf


On the map page the cafe is where the blue-green triangle is at...where the cafe is the green part still under construction...

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TAFKATLB(TheArtistFormerlyKnowAsTheLoveBelow)

i think the "flow" problems come from too many lanes...idiots all the way on the left suddenly realize they need to be all the way to the right and cross five lanes of traffic -- cars coming in and out in unpredictable ways, too much space to speed up like they are on a freakin' raceway...

they could widen the sidewalks/make bike lanes on both sides and it wouldn't hinder the flow of traffic at all except maybe for 15 minutes each day.

I'm surprised they didn't include a change to the 25th/26th st interchange as crossing over to the Perelman is such an issue...but i can see that the other areas are in more dire straits.

it would be great if they could put in little bandstands in some of the park areas...have music or readings or stage plays outside...there's plenty of room for it and the space desperately needs some use. but this is certainly a step in the right direction -- especially since if they make a true bike path down the parkway I will be able to ride my bike to work in about 8 minutes!

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Adlerian PLEASE SEEK ANOTHER THERAPIST, this one IS NOT WORKING

These projects always crack me up.

They're going to rebuild the sidewalks and street furniture on the Parkway. Meanwhile, just a few blocks away, the city can't bother to maintain the plantings in the median strip of Spring Garden St. (certain blocks) and N. Broad.

As for the Parkway, the number one thing that should be done is to cover the Vine Street expressway opening in front of the Free Library and Family Court. Yet that is not in the plans.

Yes. According to the plan I saw it will be just north of the Sq and south of the
the main branch of the Free Library at 20th and the Parkway.

Additionally there is one being built right now in the little park just SW of 16th
and Cherry.

The plantings in the median strip east of 19th St were,
yes, better maintained and done more frequently, when
PhiladelphiaGreen was doing it. So who's responsible for it now?