University City District (UCD) is moving forward with its plans to revitalize the 40th Street Trolley Portal in West Philadelphia. The project is being led by Prema Gupta, the organization's director of planning and economic development.
If you've ever been to the 40th Street trolley stop, you probably know it’s not the most inviting or vibrant place in University City. That will soon change with the introduction of The Plaza, the first component in UCD's creative reimagining of the transit hub.
The Plaza will boast chairs, tables, benches, trees and planters, and even boulders for climbing and play. Designed as an amenity for local students, residents and SEPTA passengers, the space will also host ongoing UCD programming and events.
The second component of the portal, The Apron, will improve pedestrian access and replace surfaces around the tracks with seating walls bordering heaps of wildflowers and native plants selected to attract butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Gupta originally announced the project this past spring, and it looks like UCD will begin construction earlier than planned after raising an additional $1.4 million in funds for the effort.
“Because we’ve raised such significant funding, we’re really able to see this come to fruition sooner than we anticipated,” says UCD representative Lori Brennan.
“Our work is what happens at ground level,” adds UCD Policy and Research Manager Seth Budick, who is currently working on an ambitious public space survey. “We look to constantly make improvements to all the areas and spaces between developments and transit.”
It's likely Budick's findings will lead to numerous project tweaks, as he continually oversees improvements to existing public spaces in University City.
“We’re studying in great detail how people are using these [public] spaces and what they’re doing there,” he explains. “It’s an approach we’ve really taken to heart.”
Dan Eldridge is news editor of Flying Kite Media.