Fun Near Water, Parks in Philly

Race Street Pier at Penn’s Landing

‘Waterfront Relaxation in the City of Brotherly Love’

Enjoying a peaceful section of Philadelphia can be found at Race Street Pier. Situated along the Delaware River, next to the beginning of the Ben Franklin Bridge, this park provides several areas for you to relax, hold special events, enjoy a family picnic, or to get a little fun workout into your day. On some nights, watch musicians, outdoor movies, or one of the many summer fireworks displays.

History of Race Street Pier

Originally beginning in 1896 with a large building built on two levels to serve different functions, the New Race Street Pier opened on May 12, 2011 as the first new public space of its kind on the Central Delaware River Waterfront.

Formerly Municipal Pier 11, the pier was renamed as the Race Street Pier to further reinforce its relationship to the City and reinstate its historic name, establishing itself as a distinctive new public place for Philadelphians.

Race Street Pier Experience & Atmosphere

The Pier was designed to create a strong physical experience that reconnects the City to the River which features two-levels. The upper terrace, named the grand sky promenade, is a ramp that rises 12-feet towards the bridge and is paved with Trex, a sustainable, synthetic decking material made out of reclaimed plastic and wood. The promenade is linked to the lower terrace by a multi-tiered seating area that wraps around the end of the pier, allowing you views of the tide or peering back into the city skyline.

The park provides exhilarating views of the Ben Franklin Bridge and features extensive lighting, including fully lighted rails and over 200 LED Solar Light Blocks embedded into the paving. While sitting on the promenade, you can watch runners and trains pass by overhead, listen to Duck Boats splash into the water, and gaze out as the barges float slowly past.

Part of the lower terrace is a sun-filled multi-purpose lawn, planting beds and seating. All visitors are provided with free, 4G WiMAX internet access courtesy of Clear.

Fun Facts About Race Street Pier (directly from the web site)

The park’s setting under the Ben Franklin Bridge is spectacular at night; therefore the park was designed to be enjoyed in the evening as well as during the day with extensive lighting including 200 LED Solar Light Blocks embedded into the paving.

The 37 large caliper Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) trees were cultivated for four years at a nursery in Millstone, N.J for the World Trade Center Memorial at Ground Zero in New York City.

Almost 10,250 individual 4 inch pots of shade tolerant grasses and perennials were planted in weathered steel planters to increase diversity and add texture, color and seasonal interest.

The Delaware River fluctuates an average of six feet in elevation a day. At mean high water level, the lower level of the pier will be approximately 4.5 feet above the river, making the Race Street Pier one of rare places where you can get close to the water. The Race Street Pier is also a tidal register, where you can find out the forecast for high and low tides for the City of Philadelphia.