The Ben Franklin Parkway is one of the most dangerous roads in Philadelphia, but its long-planned redesign may finally be on its way, writes David Murrell for Philadelphia Magazine.
The city selected Design Workshop in 2021 to reimagine the Parkway. This fall, the 55-page Parkway to Park document is expected to feature colorful renderings of the plan, including a central plaza between the Art Museum and Eakins Oval. The Parkway’s outer lanes would also be permanently closed to cars and converted into green spaces and bike lanes.
Logan Circle would be redesigned from a hazardous traffic circle into a pedestrian square, reflecting William Penn’s original vision, and the land south of the Art Museum would then connect seamlessly with the Schuylkill River.
The project would create 16 acres of new green space in the heart of Philadelphia, more than twice the size of Rittenhouse Square. It would also double the tree canopy along the Parkway.
A $23 million federal grant has already been awarded to the city for the roadway redesign linking the Art Museum to Eakins Oval. An additional $25 million is required to landscape the new plaza and replace the outer lanes.
Read more about the Ben Franklin Parkway and its long-planned redesign in Philadelphia Magazine.
_____
