30th Street Station Gets a 'Porch,' Enticing Passersby To Set A Spell
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A new public space was officially opened today in West Philadelphia, right in front of 30th Street Station, designed to be an inviting place for visitors and commuters alike.
The parking lane along the Market Street side of 30th Station was closed to create the 50-foot-wide sidewalk for the public space which will feature new plantings, a farmer's market, even occasional yoga classes.
Matt Bergheiser (below), executive director of the University City District, says a number of regular events will be held there.
"This is a gateway, this is part of the connective tissue of the city," he told KYW Newsradio, "but more than anything else we invite you to think of this as a blank canvas, to be shaped and molded into what citzens and users wish it to be."
Story continues below photo...
-----
In the months to come, outdoor seating will encourage citizens to linger and enjoy the activities.
Mayor Michael Nutter said this project is part of a larger plan.
"We want 75 percent of the people who live anywhere in the city of Philadelphia to be within a 10-minute walk of open space over the course of the next couple of years, and this is contributing to that effort," he said.
A contest to name the space was conducted and 500 entries were received. The winning name for this new outdoor public area is 'The Porch at 30th Street Station," chosen for its welcoming, low-key feeling.
Reported by Michelle Durham, KYW Newsradio 1060
