by KYW’s Paul Kurtz
The University of Pennsylvania has broken ground on a $46 million project to build a recreational area at the eastern edge of campus along the west bank of the Schuylkill River.
Penn Park will be built on what had been 24 acres of asphalt and concrete, much of the land purchased from the Postal Service two years ago. Penn President Amy Guttman says it's being transformed into a lush, green urban oasis and gateway linking University City and Center City:
"When Penn Park is complete, the space behind me, Walnut Street, will be filled with state of the art playing fields for soccer, lacrosse and other sports and over there, toward South Street, tennis players will be practicing on a dozen new courts."
But she says everybody will be welcome:
"Students, downtown workers, neighborhood families and tourists will be strolling or biking along elevated walkways that will criss-cross the paths and really make this a park that flanks the river."
Penn Park is scheduled to open in 2011.
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