South Philadelphia

Neighborhood Open Space Profile: South Philadelphia

Neighborhoods Included: Queen Village/Pennsport/Bella Vista/Passyunk Square/Girard Estate/Point Breeze/Gray's Ferry/South of South

1) Open space concerns, issues or challenges

• Stadium parking taking place in FDR Park
• Maintenance of existing open space and recreation centers
• Development along the Delaware River
• Losing the FDR golf course
• Basement flooding
• Illegal dumping

2) Community open space interests and desires

• Acquire open space and active play areas where lacking
• Maintenance and improvement of existing recreation centers
• Creating more open space along both riverfronts and maintaining accessibility
• Maintaining and enhancing community gardens

3) Compliance or regulatory issues

• Working with various agencies for the Schuylkill River and Delaware River Waterfront development
• Fairmount Park Commission has jurisdiction over the large parks (FDR Park, golf course)
• Brownfield development
• Clean Water Act regulations regarding pollutant discharge into waterways
• 100-year floodplain requirements for regulating land and property damage, as well as safety
• PA stormwater management and sediment erosion control
• Philadelphia Zoning Code, landscape buffer requirements: need for improved enforcement

4) Demographic trends or changes

• Dramatic increases in construction and development, especially along the Delaware River
• Transfer from a largely older population to a younger population with families
• Significant influx of Mexican and Asian immigrants

5) Market demands or pressures

• Dramatic increase in the cost of land has hindered the acquisition of open space
• Development of the Naval Base is increasing
• Strong commercial development along the Delaware River and in the Southwest quadrant

6) Specific environmental issues

• Possible environmental remediation necessary along the Schuylkill River as industries move out
• Possible environmental remediation necessary in the Naval Base area
• Oil plume near Sienna Woods development
• Significant stormwater management issues including flooding after storms

7) Major developments and/or open space opportunities

• Redevelopment of PHA housing to create more open space
• Development of the Naval Base

8) Other important information that should be noted?

• Significant commercial development outside the edges of PAS-B would increase car and foot traffic in the area, which may put pressure on existing open space.