Penn Park Begins: Transforming Campus and the City for Good

November 6, 2009

"No other urban campus has done something this transforming," said Amy Gutmann.

And she's right.

Penn Park had its official groundbreaking ceremony today, marking the beginning of the transformation -- where 24 acres of barren asphalt and concrete will become a thriving urban ribbon of green.

      Penn Park | video clip | radio clip

Calling the project an "extreme makeover, Penn style," Gutmann said that when the park is completed, in 2011, it will spur commercial development along the Walnut Street corridor and complete William Penn's historic plan to create a "green country towne."

This "green" will include athletic and recreational fields, a rich pedestrian experience, and other public venues -- all of which will dramatically add to the urban landscape while improving the natural environment. Penn Park's native grasses, trees and shrubs will help clean the city air and heal the Schuylkill River, and it will be, for generations to come, not only a destination, but -- even more significantly -- a connection between the easternmost edges of University City and the western boundaries of Center City.

This genius for transforming -- applying new vision and fresh solutions to bring about the greatest good in the future ahead -- is why we say, repeatedly, that Penn is making history. And today, Penn Park became yet another leading example: "It will place the University, once again, at the forefront of innovative land use and responsible urban design." said Gutmann. "Like Locust Walk, Woodland Walk and Blanche Levy Park, the construction of Penn Park will transform Penn's campus and our city for generations to come."

And she's right. But with shades as cool as hers, you can't go wrong!

» more like this in Events | Going Green