CNBNews

In conjunction with the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation and sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Friends of Race Street Pier will host the First Friday Party on the Race Street Pier.  Visitors can explore the galleries in Old City and then take a stroll down Race Street to the new park on the pier and celebrate First Friday on August 5th.  Elements of the celebration include:

·         Local Food Vendors

·         Race Street Peers Information Table

·         Meet “Philadelphia’s Lost Waterfront”Author

·         Music by DJ Jack Tripper

·         Live Music by Trinidelphia. The band plays music in the Caribbean steel drum style and combines other genres to keep the music fresh, creative, and spontaneous.

·         Art Demonstrations by Hussian School of Art Students.

BACKGROUND:  In February 2009, Mayor Nutter together with DRWC announced funding was secured for design and construction of a one acre public park on the vacant pier at the base of Race Street, immediately south of the Ben Franklin Bridge.  DRWC and the City of Philadelphia issued a Request for Proposals to provide design, construction documentation, and construction administration services for improvements to Pier 11 with the goal to develop Pier 11 into a publicly accessible riverfront amenity for residents and tourists.

With public input and the leadership of the DRWC Planning Committee led by Marilyn Jordan Taylor, Dean, Penn Design, University of Pennsylvania and Alan Greenberger, Executive Director Philadelphia City Planning Commission, Acting Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and Commerce Director, awarded the contract for the project design to James Corner Field Operations, a nationally recognized landscape design team whose credits include the acclaimed High Line in NYC.                             

The Race Street Pier opened officially on May 12, 2011 with a ribbon cutting by Mayor Nutter.  The development of a public space such as the Race Street Pier was an early action recommendation of the Civic Vision for the Central Delaware, an extensive public study conducted by Penn Praxis to re‐envision Philadelphia’s Waterfront. 

Race Street Pier will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. during the upcoming summer season. Park rules will prohibit fishing, the use of skateboards, skates or recreational scooters. Motorized vehicles, commercial activity or solicitations, special events, assemblies, performances and amplified sound, as well as drinking alcohol will all require special permits. Dogs will be required to be on a leash and owners will be asked to pick up after them.

For more information, please visit www.racestreetpier.com