Aerial rendering of Venice Island
Members of the Philadelphia Water Department, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, Manayunk Development Corporation, and city officials gathered on Tuesday, October 7 to show off Venice Island’s new $46 million makeover.
The makeover, which took 10 years to complete, was inevitable.
The Philadelphia Water Department was mandated to build a 4-million gallon underground basin and pump station on Venice Island to help capture storm water and prevent sewers from overflowing into the Schuylkill. At the same time Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and Manayunk Development Corporation needed to replace the crumbling Venice Island.
After much debate, the organizations decided to join forces. The result: Venice Island Performing Arts and Recreation Center and a lake-size underground storage basin.
The new structures, located between the Manayunk Canal and the Schuylkill River, feature the following:
- Green storm water infrastructure (tree trenches, pump house with green roof and subsurface basin)
- $4.5 million, state-of-the-art theater that will house drama, dance, concerts and conferences
- Basketball court
- Playground
- New parking lot featuring space for 180 cars
Mayor Michael Nutter, Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. Deputy Mayor for Community and Environmental Resources Michael DiBerardinis, Water Commissioner Howard Neukrug, and Chief Cultural Officer Helen Haynes were in attendance for the ribbon-cutting on Tuesday.
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