by KYW's Mike Dunn
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.
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