REPORT

TO ACCOMPANY PLAN

OF

PENNYPACK PARK

PREPARED FOR

THE COMMISSIONERS OF

FAIRMOUNT PARK

JUNE 5, 1916

PHILADELPHIA

PRINTED FOR THE COMMISSIONERS

1916

FOREWORD

           Although imagination may carry well beyond the

         limits of vision, it is doubtful if so great a mind as

         that of William Penn could picture the present de-

         velopment of Philadelphia, when he appointed his

         Commissioners to found the city and sent Thomas

         Holme, the Surveyor General, to plan and lay out the

         townsite.

           The stress of commercial activities in accomplish-

         ing the rapid growth of our modern cities is so great,

         that the outdoor recreation phase of social economics

         and its influence on human efficiency would be sadly

         neglected, were it not for the disinterested and un-

         remitting efforts of such public-spirited, far-seeing,

         philosophical men, as have gathered together in the

         Park Commissions of the many cities of our country.

         Every shout of childish glee, every expression of visual

         pleasure, every relaxation of mind or muscle, every

         smile of contentment, which the recreation in Penny.

         pack Park affords, will be a well-deserved tribute to

         the City Officials and Park Commissioners, under

         whose administration this Park has been secured to

         the people of the City.

           The efforts of Mr. George S. Webster, formerly

         Chief of the Bureau of Surveys, Department of Pub-

         lic Works, and now Director of the Department of

         Wharves, Docks and Ferries, have been untiring in

         securing the valley of Pennypack Creek to the people

         of Philadelphia for a park and it is due largely to

         his foresight and his appreciation of future benefits,

         together with his unhesitating courage of conviction,      

         that so much has been accomplished toward the actual

         realization of the parking scheme.

           In presenting to the Commissioners of Fairmount

         Park the plan for the development of Pennypack

         Park, the grateful appreciation of the writer is et-

         tended to Mr. Jesse T. Vogdes, Chief Engineer to the

         Commissioners, as well as to Messrs. George S. Web-

         ster, Chester E. Albright, B. A. Haldeman, Clement

         B. Webster and Leslie S. Marshall, for their hearty co-

         operation and interest in the carrying out of this

         work.

                        DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY

           Upon authority given Mr. Jesse T. Vogdes, Chief

         Engineer to the Commissioners of Fairmount Park,

         by resolution of the Committee on Outlying Parks,

         adopted July 9, 1915, the writer was retained to pre-

         pare “a plan for the development of Pennypack Park,

         as now laid out on the City Plan, using the topo-

         graphical surveys of the Bureau of Surveys as a

         basis.” As these data were devoid of tree and other

         necessary locations, they were supplemented by sur-

         veys, sketches and observations made on the ground

         by members of the writer’s office staff.

           Pennypack Park lies partially in that portion of

         Philadelphia known as Holmesburg, so named in

         memory of Thomas Holme, the Surveyor General,

         who, under the direction of William Penn’s Commis-

         sion, laid out the townsite of Philadelphia in 1682.

         The name “Pennypack” is said to be derived from the

         Indian name “Pemapecka” or “Pemapecta” given to

         the Creek running through the Park and intended to

         describe the winding, crooked course it pursues. The

         Park lands include about twelve hundred and sixty

         acres in the valley of the Creek, as it winds its way

         from Pine Road to the State Road near the Delaware

         River. This is a distance of about seven miles in a

         straight line and almost eleven miles, if the course

         of the Creek is followed. Suburban characteristics

         are changing rapidly in this vicinity to meet the needs

         of the expanding City. Because of its varied topog-

         raphy, the land here has not been used extensively

         for agricultural purposes, nor would it be desirable

         for building sites, but, with properly directed de-

         velopment, it undoubtedly will be of great value and

         beauty as a park.

           The country hereabouts is redundant in history.

         The body of Thomas Holme is buried just outside the

         limits of the Park, on an avenue now in course of

         construction, to be named Holme Avenue in memory

         of the Surveyor. His grave is of especial interest,

         as is also the old Pennypack Baptist Church, founded

         in 1688 and still standing but a short distance from

         the entrance to the Park on Krewstown Avenue, be-

         tween Oswald Avenue and Meeting House Road.

           Pennypack Park is about eleven miles from the

         City Hall by way of Broad Street and the Northeast

         Boulevard. The Frankford and Holmesburg line of

         trolley, the Pennsylvania Railroad to Holmesburg

         Junction and to Bustleton by the Bustleton Branch,

         as well as the Philadelphia and Reading Railway to

         Buslieton, provide easy access to different portions of

         the tract. As the City expands, transportation neces-

         sarily will be extended in this direction and the Park

         will be accessible by other car lines, as well as by

         boats up the Delaware River. Construction already

         is under way for the continuation of the elevated rail.

         way from the City to Frankford Avenue and Rhawn

         Street, in close proximity to the Park, and it is hoped

         that the Philadelphia and Reading Railway Company

         will construct a suitable station for the accommoda-

         tion of its passengers where its line crosses the Park.

           The natural contour of the Park is that of rather

         steep sides, with here and there plateaus at the top~

         enclosing meadow lands which border upon the Creek.

         These slopes are for the most part thickly wooded

         with a variety of trees. The erratic course of the~

         Creek and its wide, sweeping bends give diversity to

         the scenery and unusual possibilities for landscape

         treatment. An extensive area of land is drained by

         this valley and in time of severe storm the flood

         waters have risen as high as twelve feet above the

         normal flow. Several dams have been constructed

         to impound water for the use of some small industries

         which get their power from this stream.

           In the preparation of a layout such as this one, a

         great deal of time and careful consideration must be

         given to the bringing out and the development of the

         natural beauties of the landscape found. This is

         often accomplished through the treatment of adjacent

         points in a way to lend an indirect effect on the parti-

         cular portion of the landscape to be treated and to

         fulfill the vistas desired from different directions. It

         is well-nigh impossible to render in the flat plan of a

         layout the picture the landscape engineer has in mind

         and a full appreciation of the details and the ensemble

         must be furnished by the imagination of the observer

         with the plan as a guide to direct the imagination

         in as great a degree as possible.

           The plan of Pennypark Park has been carried into

         as much detail as seemed wise up to this time, it be-

         ing the intention to give the general scheme for en-

         trances, drives, bridle paths, waterscapes, plantations,

         playgrounds, etc., with the expectation that upon

         completion of this general plan, which is presented

         herewith, the Comissioners will order the further de-

         tails, working drawings, specifications and direction

         upon the ground necessary for the execution of the

         work. The value of a park lies in its beauty, ac-

         cessibility and utility for the enjoyment of the public.

         It would seem wise for the Commissioners to consi

         der this whole general plan for the purpose of de-

         termining, which- portion should be developed first,

         and then to direct that the necessary engineering work

         be performed, so that tenders from contractors can

         be invited for such portions and a contract be entered

         into for the early realization of at least a part of the

         development of the Park.

 DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN

           Beginning at the State Road, the scheme of the

         plan contemplates parking the triangular parcel of

         land lying between the Creek and Holmesburg Ave-

         nue. No driveway is shown in this triangle, as it is

         proposed to enter the Park Driveway from Holmes-

         burg Avenue just west of the tracks of the Pennsyl-

         vania Railroad, but, foot-paths, forming entrances

         from the State Road and also, it is hoped, connections

         with the proposed Delaware River Park, traverse the

         meadow, passing the Disposal Station and a proposed

         park restaurant pavilion. At this point, the border

         of the Creek should be heavily planted to screen out

         the quarries and the Philadelphia County Prison.

         Between the railroad bridge and Torresdale Avenue

         the foot-path is continued close to the edge of the

         Creek and, passing the Canoe Clubhouse and the ten-

         nis courts, is continued under Torresdale Avenue,

         with a branch path leading up to Torresdale Avenue.

         The planting here and continuing north to Frankford

         Avenue should be heaviest on the west side, to ob-

         scure the tracks of the Bustleton Branch of the Penn-

         sylvania Railroad.

           At present the outgoing tide exposes an area of

         mud fiats in the bed of the Creek, unpleasant in both

         appearance and odor. It is recommended that this

         condition be remedied by the construction of a dam

         just north of the railroad bridge of sufficient height

         to eliminate the nuisance and to impound water to be

         used in winter for skating and other ice sports and

         in summer for canoeing. The tennis-players could

         make the Canoe Clubhouse their headquarters also.

           Passing under the bridge which carries the Penn-

         sylvania Railroad, Holmesburg Avenue is continued

         as a Park driveway and with a curvilinear align-

         ment meets and crosses Torresdale Avenue at grade.

         Holmesburg Avenue should be continued southeast

         as a connecting parkway from the State Road to the

         proposed Delaware River Park. It is recommended

         that the sidewalks of Holmesburg Avenue be con-

         tinued to Torresdale Avenue in order to make less

         striking the change from formal to informal treat-

         ment. A screen of trees and shrubs should be planted

         here to screen from view the high wall of the Phila-

         delphia County Prison.

           Crossing Torresdale Avenue, the Park Driveway is

         to be kept on high ground to the west Of the Creek

         and it swings, with long, sweeping curves and easy

         grades, to a crossing at grade on Frankford Avenue.

         Within the section between Torresdale and Frankford

         Avenues, on both sides of the Creek, are found play-

         fields for smaller children, shelters, several more ten-

         nis courts and a club house. This house, at Enfield

         Avenue near Walker Street, is in existence now and in

         a fair state of preservation. Winding foot-paths and

         a branching drive are provided, with unexpected vista

         openings, some of which show delightful glimpses of

         the Creek in its most beautiful effect.

           It is proposed that the old millrace found in this

         section of the Park be repaired and a rustic mill and

         wheel be constructed both for the purpose of adding

         interest and life to the picture and also to furnish

         sufficient power to pump water obtained from the

         Creek to a pool located near Ditman Street and En-

         field Avenue, on the east of and about forty feet above

         the level of the Creek. From this pool the overflow

         will dash down the thirty-foot rocky cliff in the form

         of a cascade, reaching a lower pool at the base of the

         cliff and escaping under the foot-path into the Creek.

           Although in the future the necessity may arise for

         the construction of a viaduct to carry Cottage Street

         across the Park, it is hoped that this can be avoided

         and that the traffic on Cottage Street will be diverted

         to Frankford and Torresdale Avenues. Provision

         is now made for foot-paths to traverse the Park in

         this direction by means of a bridge over the Creek

         about on the alignment of Cottage St.reet, were Cot-

         tage Street continued.

           At Frankford Avenue, the Park Driveway is to

         cross the Creek on the Frankford Avenue bridge and

         re-enter the Park on the east side of the Creek. It

         is recommended that a dam be built just far enough

         south of the Frankford Avenue bridge to impound the

         water to the foot of the dam north of Frankford

         Avenue.

           On account of the contour of the ground it will be

         necessary to build a wall to support Holmesburg Ave-

         nue from Frankford Avenue to t.he tunnel and, in

         order to preserve the existing millrace, it will be

         necessary to build a semi-circular water carrier in

         combination with the wall of Holmesburg Avenue

         from, a point, where it leaves the dam to Frankford

         Avenue, passing under Frankford Avenue and emerg-

         ing in a grotto on the south side of the Avenue.

           Several perspective studies have been prepared il-

         lustrating this portion of the plan and they are sub-

         mitted herewith. Study No. 1 shows a picture of

         Frankford Avenue bridge, looking south from a point

         on Holmesburg Avenue about one hundred feet south

         of the dam. Study No. 2 is taken from the same point

         as Study No. 1, but looks north toward the Canoe

         Clubhouse and the old stone dam. Study No. 3 is a

         view of the tunnel and the Bustleton Railroad Bridge

         and is taken from the Park Driveway near Frankford

         Avenue Circle.

           The Bustleton branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad

         crosses the Park diagonally a short distance north of

         the Canoe Clubhouse and bath-house. The present

         railroad bridge will have to be raised to a higher

         elevation on account of the new street grades and,

         when this is done, it is to be recommended strongly

         that there be constructed in its place a bridge of ar-

         chitectural features blending with the parking scheme

         at this point. The railroad bridge over Frankford

         Avenue also should be of pleasing design, as it will

         be a dominant note in that portion of the landscape.

           Between Frankford and Welsh Avenues is found

         one of the very crooked sweeps of the Creek. At the

         darn site at the foot of the hill east of Wilgus Avenue

         the Rowland Shovel Works are now located and in

         operation. The power. for the mill is developed by

         a turbine wheel, which, after the Shovel Works are

         removed, it is expected will be used for furnishing

         power to pump water to the children’s wading pool

         in the playground near Holmesburg Avenue and Fair.

         view Street. The playground and sand court here

         are on the highest ground in the vicinity and are to

         be furnished with a shelter and water-tower. The

         lookout from the top of the tower will afford a won-

         derful view of the surrounding countryside. Study

         No. 6, submitted herewith, shows the shelter for the

         children, with administration offices and water tower

         above, and children wading in the pool below. The

         slopes below make fine playgrounds and surrounding

         these are rambling paths through the woods. On

         one of these paths a natural lookOut occurs, which has

         been utilized for the location of a shelter, the view

         from which takes in the vistas of two stretches of

         the Creek.

           On leaving Frankford Avenue the Park Driveway

         drops gradually, passes beneath the railroad at the

         diagonal crossing and from this point adheres rather

         closely to the alignment of the Creek. Because of

         the steep enclosing side slope, it seems more desirable

         to cross the Creek with the driveway at a point about

         Opposite Crispin Street and recross again just below

         Wooden Bridge Run, then follow the Creek to Welsh

         Avenue, crossing that Avenue at present at grade,

         but, when the new bridge is finished, passing under it.

           Several paths are laid out in this area, making all

         parts equally accessible and leading past the existing

         houses now used by the Shovel Works, which will be

         useful to the Park for keepers’ lodges, etc., later on.

         There is a path leading to and surrounding an open

         meadow at the foot of the slope from Wilgus Avenue

         and connecting with the sidewalks of Welsh Avenue.

           At this part of the Park also there has been in-

         troduced into the plan a bridle path, most desirable

         to equestrians in these ‘days of hard motor roads.

         This path rambles through the trees and shrubbery,

         under railroad tracks, across fields and into unex-

         pected glades. It enters at Wilgus Avenue and Al-

         bion Street, traverses a very interesting alignment

         and is further diversified by a ford across the Creek

         just above the Shovel Works, continuing on the south

         bank both up and down the Park. Among the feat-

         tires which it passes is a large rock just off the shore

         of the Creek west of the dam at the Shovel Works,

         well known in the neighborhood as the Sally Cook

         Rock.

           Passing under Welsh Avenue, the driveway follows

         closely the foot of the cliff-like slope and finally

         branches. The main or west drive passes the athletic

         field, then under the Rhawn Street south viaduct,

         continuing around the children’s playground and

         finally passing beneath the Rhawn Street north

         viaduct.

           To the east of the Rhawn Street south viaduct, in

         a flat meadow, baseball grounds are located. This,

         together with the running track, football field, tennis

         courts, skating and boating pond and children’s play-

         ground, will form one of the two groups of athletic

         grounds and will be easily accessible from Rhawn

         Street, which is bound soon to have adequate trans-

         portation facilities. The opportunity for the com-

         bination of sporting fields is most unusual.

           Although baseball is the most popular sport in the

         country and is enjoyed equally well by boys and men,

         yet it seems rather selfish to permit eighteen people

         to occupy several acres of land for several hours to

         the exclusion of all other sport. For many years

         there will be sufficient open meadow in the Park for

         the enjoyment of baseball without inconvenience to

         the general public, but, looking to the future, it does

         not seem wise to establish definitely as part of the

         plan more than two regular baseball fields, where

         perhaps there may be arranged interesting games

         and the public can be entertained as observers, if not

         as players. To this argument may be added the fact

         that this Park, with the exception of the two places

         selected for baseball, is not a suitable place for such

         sports. It might be wise for the Commissioners to

         secure land outside the Park limits, should the need

         for more ball-grounds become increasingly apparent.

           A canoe-house and bathing pavilion have been lo-

         cated at the base of a very steep and picturesque

         slope north of Rowland Street and west of Rhawn

         Street. The tennis courts are a little farther up-

         stream, on the meadow-land east of Hartel Avenue,

         and are provided with a clubhouse.

           The large open meadow on the higher land between

         the viaducts and south of Rhawn Street has been

         utilized as a playground, with shelter and sand

         courts, and is to be decorated with specimen trees.

           The north branch of the driveway climbs gradually

         up the slope and connects with Rhawn Street, from

         which point it drops again through a natural glade

         and connects with the main Park Driveway just above

         the Rhawn Street north viaduct, a connection being

         made with Colfax Street. This connection will be of

         considerable importance, as it will form the only out-

         let toward the City for the territory on the east side

         of the Park, between the Welsh Road and Holme Ave-

         nue, and it will form a short cut to Rhawn Street

         and the Northeast Boulevard at the main entrance to

         the Park.

           The property, on which the main entrance to the

         Park from the Northeast Boulevard is laid out, was

         not acquired by the City until after almost all of this

         plan had been made and therefore it has been put

         on the plan as an insert. This entrance, however,

         promises to be one of the most interesting features

         of the Park, much study having been given to make

         its design herald the naturalistic park within the

         gates.

           A driveway from this main entrance follows the val-

         ley of Sandy Run and, passing over the Creek, joins the

         above-described main Park Drive a short distance

         south of the Rhawn Street north viaduct. The en-

         trance is located on the east side of the Northeast

         Boulevard, about a mile south of Holme Avenue, at

         a point where Sandy Run at present passes under the

         Boulevard. It is proposed to carry Sandy Run as a

         winding brook through this sunken meadow and to

         let it widen out into a pool at the end within the

         curved wall used to retain the two entrance roadways

         where they join the main drive. This retaining wall

         is carried along the Boulevard and adjoining streets,

         terminating in the semicircular treatment of the en-

         trance at the end of the picture or vista. In this

         way the entrance becomes a feature of prominence

         in the landscape treatment of the section.

           Another result of this form of treatment is the

         creation of a sunken garden and, at its further end, a

         splendid location for a group of statuary. Study

         No. 4 shows a view of such a group taken from a point

         in the sunken meadow-garden. A view of this gar-

         den can be had from both the Boulevard and the two

         entrance drives, and the only reason for walking

         through the meadow will be for a more intimate view

         of its formation, flowers and statuary: it is in no way

         a thoroughfare. No foot-paths have been designed

         for this particular part of the Park, it being the idea

         to allow visitors to roam over the greensward and

         among the horticultural specimens. Sidewalks how-

         ever are provided along the driveways and from these

         sidewalks is obtained a view of the meadow-garden

         in good perspective.

           In the low area lying south of Rhawn Street there

         occurs another very decided change in the natural

         alignment of the Creek, which here traverses a marshy

         meadow. In order to eliminate this swamp and at

         the same time provide material with which to bring

         the driveways to grade, it is proposed to dredge out

         the lowland above the old Calico Works and to im-

         prove the old dam, then, by widening the Creek, it will

         be possible to create three islands, which will be con-

         nected to the mainland by bridges. These islands

         can be used by the public as picnic grounds and

         should be popular. Study No. 5 shows a view of the

         bridges at the north picnic island, taken from the

         Rhawn Street north viaduct.

           Little landscape treatment is needed to develop the

         natural beauties found in that portion of the Park

         upstream from the Rhawn Street viaduct. It is neces-

         sary only to provide, by drives, bridle paths and foot-

         paths, means for reaching the various points of beauty

         and interest.

           There has been arranged a dual entrance at Po-

         quessing Avenue, the right drive keeping to the high

         ground and overlooking some beautiful meadows, then

         joining the main drive after crossing Bensalem Ave-

         nue at grade. The left drive drops gradually to the

         main drive, which will follow the Creek and pass be-

         neath both the Poquessing and Bensalem Avenue

         bridges.

           Much attention and study has been devoted to the

         location of these drives and paths in order to provide

         for the visualization of the many interesting views

         which are possible.

           One of the particularly striking vistas is the view

         from the bridge to be constructed to carry Bensalem

         Avenue across the Park. It will be hard to find a

         more fascinating picture than the view westerly from

         this bridge. Looking down, the Pennypack Creek,

         sixty feet below, is seen with the old Axe Factory

         Dam a short way upstream. The old Axe Factory

         Road is maintained as a Park drive from Lexington

and Large Avenues down the beautiful ravine bounded

         by a forest of magnificent beech trees, crossing the

         Creek on an arched bridge a little above the dam and

         connecting with the main drive, which runs on the

         north side of the Creek at this point. Between the

         factory dam and the Park drive bridge is located a

         canoe house and bath house, adding a pleasing note

         of life and color to the already beautiful view.