Local children play at Clark Park. With a $55,000 grant, the University City District hopes to revitalize the park, which is located between 43rd and 45th streets and Baltimore and Woodland avenues. (Leah Tulin/The Daily Pennsylvanian) [Click to enlarge]

And now, the University City District is trying to restore the park to its former glory.

In September, the William Penn Foundation awarded a $55,000 grant to the University City District and the Friends of Clark Park for the long-term revitalization of the park.

The UCD and the Friends of Clark Park are holding a series of neighborhood meetings to discuss possible plans for the park, which is located between 43rd and 45th streets and Baltimore and Woodland avenues.

UCD President Paul Steinke said that town meetings allow for "community input to be respected and coordinated into the ultimate revitalization plan."

The meetings are being led by the design firm of Simone Jaffe Collins. With the aid of the Philadelphia Department of Recreation, the architecture and planning firm will produce the master plan for the park's improvement.

"Nothing was decided. It was all about gathering information," UCD Director of Capital Programs and Planning Eric Goldstein said of the first meeting, held last week.

Among other things, members of the community have suggested upgrading amenities, specifically rest rooms, lighting and electric and water hookups.

"The recommendations will ultimately lead to a master plan in June," Goldstein said.

Safety, maintenance, and child recreation activities are also being addressed.

In terms of safety, people in attendance last week addressed the insufficient lighting and the lack of a stop sign at the intersection of 45th Street and Kingsessing Avenue.

Another suggestion was the development of "interactive history interpretations" for both adults and children of such events like the Civil War.

Starting at Rosenberger Hall, the walk-through is a hands-on approach for members of the community to provide input about the park's design.

"The goal again is information collection," Goldstein said.

"Instead of sitting in a box with artificial light, we are going to the site. We want people to respond to the site," he added.

Suggestions from town meetings will eventually lead to the presentation of design concept alternatives, which is scheduled to occur at the beginning of March.

A draft plan will then be presented by mid-April and a final plan by mid-June.

Once a plan for the park is adopted, the project partners will undergo a capital campaign to raise funds for the renovations.

Goldstein said that it is too early to estimate the cost for the park's physical improvements.

He added, however, that such construction for parks of comparable size typically costs about $1.5 million.

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