Something’s finally going to happen at Benjamin Rush State Park at Southampton Road and Roosevelt Boulevard.
There has been talk of improving Rush for years, and it looks like the long-awaited upgrade is going to get under way soon. To mark that start, there will be a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday at 11 a.m. Zoning issues had hung up improvement plans for years, and after they were sorted out, money, or lack of it, got in the way.
In late 2010, local and state officials announced that the money was in hand to get the work started, but 2011 and most of 2012 went by with nothing happening. Early this year, members of the Parkwood Civic Association said they were informed work at the park will be completed in 2013.
In 2009, state officials presented a plan to develop Rush’s 275 acres as a passive recreation area. The park had been used by community gardeners, a model airplane club and horseback riders, and had remained undeveloped for decades.
When work is complete, Rush, will have a new entrance from Southampton Road, a comfort station, sewer and water connections, unpaved paths for biking and walking, and parking spaces made of porous asphalt to manage storm water. ••
