Special Architecture Walking Tour

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Sunday November 8

2:00 PM  –  4:00 PM

**Special Tour** THE RAIL PARK

The Rail Park is a vision for a three mile linear park and pathway that will transform Philly’s historic Reading Railroad to eventually connect more than 10 distinct neighborhoods and provide accessible and meaningful public space for all. Phase 1 of the Rail Park is the first completed section and opened to the public in June of 2018.  

 

The Rail Park is situated on two, now obsolete, rail lines built by the Reading Company that used to serve the Reading Terminal, bringing passengers and freight in and out of Center City. The rail line transported coal and raw materials to local manufacturers, including Baldwin Locomotive Works, one of the largest manufacturing facilities in the world.

 

The proposed plan seeks to preserve the historic features of the site. The Baldwin Bridge which is the only remaining structure from the factory, and the 1898 Keystone in the entrance arch of the tunnel which marks the date of the first subway in America, are among the iconic elements that will be preserved as the space is transformed. 

 

Led by the Center City District, Studio Bryan Hanes and Urban Engineers, construction began in 2016, and on June 14, 2018, the Rail Park opened to the public. Today, the Rail Park is owned by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation as a public park with programming and community engagement spearheaded by the Friends of the Rail Park with support from Center City District. 

 

Phase one of the Rail Park provides an area that has historically lacked access to public parks with a space to enjoy natural resources, city views, public art, and community-led programming. Phase one features native landscaping, the Dawn Chorus poetry installation, curated by Laynie Browne, and an unobstructed view of Stamp of Incarceration; James Anderson, a mural by Shepard Fairey. 

 

Join Executive Director, Rebecca Cordes Chan of Friends of the Rail Park to tour Phase One of the park, situated between Callowhill and Chinatown North. We’ll learn about the Rail Park’s past, present, and future plans, the neighborhoods surrounding the park, and all of the community contributions that make this project possible. 

 

Meet at the Rail Car on the intersection of Broad Street and Noble Street. 423 N Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19130 (map).

In registering to attend this walking tour, you agree to the following:

  • During the tour, all participants including the tour guide, will wear a face mask that covers their nose and mouth at all times.
  • Preservation Alliance walking tours utilize an audio system that transmits from a headset worn by the guide to earpieces worn by tour attendees. The equipment is thoroughly sanitized before and after each use. Tour attendees can also plug in their personal headsets or earbuds that use a standard headphone jack.
  • All participants, including the tour guide, must maintain six feet of distance between themselves and others.

Space is limited. Advance registration required.

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