With another grant secured, Columbus Square work set to begin spring 2017

The plans for the Columbus Square redesign are finally coming together, thanks to some additional grant money which secures the funding for the project.

This new grant for $300,000 ensures that construction on the $2.8 million redesign can begin, with a target start time for the spring of 2017.

“The selected design team is now working on the construction drawings,” Ilene Wilder, president of the Columbus Square advisory council, said. “Once the drawings are done, they will be sent out to contractors to bid on them. It is anticipated that the project will break ground in the spring of 2017.”

This grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be combined with other grants and funding from the William Penn Foundation and the Passyunk Avenue Revitalization Corporation, along with Columbus Square’s fundraising efforts to create this improvement park space.  

Plans for improvement at Columbus Square include a redesigned “patio” area, a refurbished dog park with anti-bacterial grass, improvements to the recreation center, new sidewalks, a rain garden, improved lighting and more. You can read about more of the expected improvements here.

“While I am very pleased about all of these new investments for places in the First Senate District, I am especially pleased to see the approval of $300,000 for Columbus Square Park,” Sen. Larry Farnese said in a press release. “The plans for the renovation of this place will positively impact generations of Philadelphians.”

This funding from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources means big things for Columbus Square, but it wasn’t the only park project to receive state grants in South Philadelphia. Lanier Playground in Grays Ferry received $350,000 and the Delaware River Trail received $250,000. There are a total of nine projects that received funding in Philadelphia.