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07/15/2002 Whitaker Ave. & Loudon St. (Feltonville) (Ed Goppelt)

• Photos
• Parks News

I'd like to thank Mark Focht, NLREEP director and Fred Maurer of Friends of Tacony Creek for their help in preparing this piece. These two men would seem to agree on nothing at all (see See Maurer v. NLREEP), with one exception: they both care deeply about our parks. Focht took time out of his day to review and comment on these photos for which I am profoundly grateful.

Note: NLREEP Director Mark Focht's comments are printed in red.

According to Focht, NLREEP's goals at this site were to:

• Restore the eroded hillsides.
• Create an upland meadow.
• Remove abandoned cars, deteriorated play equipment, trash and illegal dumping.
• Block access to inappropriate and illegal park uses.

Note: for the sake of those with slow Internet connections, pictures are displayed at their smallest possible size. To enlarge the photos, simply click on the size controls under any photo.

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This was once an auto graveyard
2002/07/15

Newly created meadow at the corner of Whitaker Ave. and Loudon St. This section of the park was previously filled by abandoned cars and broken play equipment. By next spring it should be a beautiful, warm season native grass meadow. M.F.

This is the infamous auto graveyard described in the Daily News Acres of Neglect series. According to park volunteer Fred Maurer, 74 cars were pulled out of this section of the park in one collection.

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Fred Maurer
2002/07/15

Fred Maurer is a Vice President of Friends of Tacony Creek Park. He is a retired AT&T employee and has been actively volunteering in Tacony for ten years.

Maurer is critical of the job NLREEP has been doing. See Maurer v. NLREEP.

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New Guide Rail Intended to Keep Out ATVs, Illegal Dumpers etc.
2002/07/15 Newly installed guiderail blocks access by illegal park uses to restored areas. M.F.

In this case, the illegal uses Focht refers to were trash dumping, ditching of stolen cars, and riding of ATV vehicles. The railing replaces bollards (thick wooden posts) paid for by DA Lynne Abraham. The bollards, spaced 4 ft. apart, were easily evaded--knock one down and you're in.

Apparently those seeking access to the park for illegal purposes were nothing if not determined. When the railings first went up, they unbolted the railings to gain access. As a countermeasure NLREEP tap welded the railings in place. "We're learning as we go along," says Focht.

Despite their rusted appearance, these guide rails are new. They are made of a special Corten steel which oxidizes, rather than rusts, forming the protective purple patina seen in the photograph.

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New Grass Emerges from Protective Covering
2002/07/15 Coir stabilization fabric is used to protect new growth from erosion until it has had a chance to take root. Coir is ued throughout Fairmount Park to counteract soil erosion. Coir is made from 100% coconut husks and biodegrades in 4-6 years . It is used to stabilize soil areas until the root systems ofor new plants or seeds can firmly take root. M.F.

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Reseeded Area with Protective Net
2002/07/15 A coir (coconut fiber) swale used to properly channel stormwater runoff to avoid soil erosion. The area was recently seeded and, when all seeds take root, the coir fabric will visually disappear. M.F.

Note: my dictionary defines swale as "a low tract of land, especially moist or marshy ground."

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ATV Barrier
2002/07/15 Park Volunteer Fred Maurer stands in front of an ATV barrier placed by NLREEP.

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Second ATV Barrier
2002/07/15

Large downed trees are used to block an illegal access point previously used by ATVs and stolen autos. This does not block access for any legitimate FPC or PWD maintenance needs--there are other routes. M.F.

Maurer thinks this barrier is a mistake, that it blocks the neighbors' easy access to the park. He says it hinders access by the Fire and Water Depts., forcing them to go 1/4-1/2 mile out of their way. To me that would seem to be close enough: assuming an average speed of 20 mph, it would take the Fire Dept. 3/4 - 1 1/2 minutes to cover the extra distance.