As the central spine of this historic city, Penn Street hosts local businesses, cultural institutions, and public transit—connecting City Park and the Schuylkill River Trail.
A Plan that Reflects the Community
Floura Teeter led the community engagement and design process which identified six areas of emphasis within the corridor. Based on community-identified priorities, east and west ends should be linked by a protected cycle track; intended to attract riders from the trail into downtown as well as to facilitate mobility within the city, this thread connects businesses, residents, and visitors.
Other priorities included creating a gateway to downtown, a plaza for the farmer’s market, and a fresh vision for historic Penn Square. Streetscape design improves the aesthetic and environmental quality of downtown using implementable strategies which also improve the efficiency and safety of mobility within the corridor.
Recommendations considered the City’s funding and maintenance resources, so materials were selected to provide multiple benefits with reduced input.
The final report reflects robust feedback, documents community comments, and identifies potential funding sources.
