Penn Park: A Greener Future for Penn's Campus

March 2, 2009

Artist's rendering of Penn Park. Courtesy Jennifer Rizzi.

Penn trustees met last Thursday and got their first look at Penn Park, a $40 million, 24-acre project that will integrate athletic fields in a park-like setting -- Penn's new athletic hub.

"Historically, this is one of the greatest needs," athletic director Steve Bilsky said.

And one of the greenest. Not only does a former industrial wasteland get replaced with the trees and turf of playing fields and picnic areas, Penn Park is also being designed for sustainability.

Because it's situated on land that is susceptible to floods, Penn Park will include smart measures to divert excess water, and will make use of a variety of native trees (like honey locusts and sycamores) that can live in wet soil without rotting. Additionally, engineered soil with good nutrients will be imported, and grasses that require less irrigation and maintenance will cover the back side of the fields.

The park is the centerpiece of the university's 30-year master plan, called Penn Connects, which aims to build stronger connections between Penn, the city, and the region. And by providing open, usable space adjacent to campus, the new Penn Park not only keeps the whole Penn campus connected, but allows existing parts of the campus core to make more -- and greener -- choices about its own growth.

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