Spruce Street Harbor Park will transform the Delaware River Waterfront into a magical summertime destination starting the last weekend in June and running for two months, though August. (Image courtesy Delaware River Waterfront Corporation)
This weekend, the Delaware River Waterfront will transform from an urban riverside into a lush oasis with the grand opening of Spruce Street Harbor Park, the new pop-up park at Spruce Street and Columbus Boulevard.
From Friday, June 27 through Sunday, August 31, the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation the folks that brought us this past winter's Waterfront Winterfest at the Blue Cross RiverRink turns the Penn's Landing Marina at Columbus Boulevard and Spruce Street into a pop-up summertime village.
Considerably upgrading the perennial good times of summer on Penn's Landing, Spruce Street Harbor Park provides a charming new public space that’s free to check out and open to the public daily from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Penn's Landing has long been an awesome hub of good times in the summer months, with annual programming like the PECO multicultural festival series, concerts at the RiverStage, Screenings Under the Stars and Smooth Jazz Summer Nights. In 2014, though, all of those annual festivals and events will be enriched by what promises to be an amazing two-month-long placemaking installation.
Read on for a rundown of what's coming to Penn's Landing and get ready to spend the summer on the water.
Overview
Spruce Street Harbor Park opens on Friday, June 27 and is currently slated to remain open through Sunday, August 31. Throughout the two months, visitors to the waterfront will be able to take advantage of all of the festivals, concerts and movies at the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, as well as the amenities of the pop-up park — mostly (if not all) completely free of charge.
Developed in conjunction with David Fierabend of Groundswell Design Group, Interface Studios and Digsau, Spruce Street Harbor Park includes both built-out landscaping and on-site programming all aimed at reminding the city of the waterfront’s awesome maritime history and ever-developing future (have you read the cool plans in the Central Delaware master plan?).
The Penn's Landing Marina, the site of the park, already features the Paddle Penn's Landing program, the Moshulu, the Independence Seaport Museum, the Olympia and Becuna, the Hyatt Regency at Penn's Landing, the Chart House and the Spirit of Philadelphia and the Spirit Elite.
Once Spruce Street Harbor Park opens, the riverside entertainment will extend south from the Independence Seaport Museum to include temporary elements like a floating pop-up restaurant, a hammock lounge, fire pits, boardwalk, mister walk and urban beach.
Spruce Street Harbor Park includes both built-out landscaping and on-site programming all aimed at reminding the city of the waterfront's awesome maritime history and ever-developing future. (Image by Matt Stanley for Delaware River Waterfront Corporation)
More on Spruce Street Harbor Park, below.
The Blue Anchor & The Oasis
Of all the pop-up features, the coolest might just be the “The Oasis,” a floating construction to house a restaurant and bar. Made up of three barges, a lily pad floating water garden, colorful seating and a net lounge that extends out over the river, The Oasis puts visitors right over the Delaware’s waters.
The on-site restaurant and bar, dubbed The Blue Anchor, is named after one of Philadelphia's very first taverns, which in its day was located nearby at Front and Dock streets.
Constructed of two shipping containers, the restaurant consists of a walk-up window, with all-alfresco seating surrounding the converted serving spaces, including bright Adirondack chairs, picnic tables and bistro tables.
The talented team from the Garces Group will handle the food and drink, serving casual summer-appropriate fare including a take on the famous Village Whiskey burger and local craft beer and cocktails.
Note that visitors can order food from The Blue Anchor and take it off of the barge, but all of the alcohol must be consumed in The Oasis, which really has a beer garden-style atmosphere.
Stay tuned for more on the menu and the hours of The Blue Anchor.
Urban Beach & Boardwalk
On land, parkgoers can hang out in hammocks, around fire pits near the Columbus Monument, along a riverfront boardwalk, under umbrellas on the urban beach and beneath cooling misters.
Around the monument, more than 50 colorful hammocks have been strung between trees and more than 800 feet of string lights have been hung to illuminate the space after dark. Plus, the park’s fountains, which have been off for the last 15 years, will be restarted this weekend, too.
North of the hammocks towards the Independence Seaport Museum and the Penn’s Landing quay, a full boardwalk lines the riverfront, complete with midway-style games and concessions. Further north, a mist walk will keep folks cool and light the way after dark with LED lights.
Further activating a key summer destination, Spruce Street Harbor Park at the Penn's Landing Marina includes a boardwalk, urban beach, fountains, misting areas, hammocks and a pop-up restaurant. Awesome. (Image by Matt Stanley for Delaware River Waterfront Corporation)
Art Star Pop-Up Market
For summer shopping, the crafty folks behind the Art Star Gallery & Boutique are curating an open-air retail experience with vendors housed inside repurposed shipping containers.
Like the annual Art Star Craft Bazaar, the Art Star Pop-Up Market will bring out handmade gifts by some of the best indie crafters from Philadelphia and beyond to the Delaware River waterfront.
A group of 10 to 20 rotating vendors will peddle a range of goods kids items, clothes, jewelry, posters, pottery and more — that are mostly priced under $50.
Check here for a look at some of the vendors, including favorites like Wear Liberty, Red Light Press and Olliver Lifestyle.
The pop-up market will be held on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. between June 28 and August 30 along a walkway within the Harbor Park, weather permitting.
Games & Entertainment
In addition to the food and shopping, the boardwalk area includes arcade and lawn games. Look out for bocce and shuffleboard, which can be reserved for a small cost, as well as free cornhole, ping pong, tetherball, Connect Four, giant Jenga and life-sized chess.
A couple shipping containers on the boardwalk will house arcade games operated by Apple Vending, too. Play skeeball, Basket Fever, Ms. Pacman and racing games.
A floating restaurant and hangout, The Blue Anchor on The Oasis might just be the coolest place to hit happy hour this summer. Start on Friday, June 27 with the Visit Philly Beer Garden Happy Hour Series! (Image by Matt Stanley for Delaware River Waterfront Corporation)
Special Events
Though Spruce Street Harbor Park will primarily be a passive park — that is, not tons of daily activities beyond the boardwalk games — during opening week and weekend the entire area will be animated with parties and festivities.
On Wednesday, June 25, the Delaware River Waterfront’s annual fundraiser takes over the space. The Spruce Street Harbor Park Promenade offers a sneak preview of the space during a tony tasting event featuring restaurants like the forthcoming Aldine, Alla Spina, Fork, R2L, Sbraga and Vernick. Tickets, $150, are still available online and proceeds go towards arts programming on the waterfront.
On Thursday, June 26, the now sold-out #whyilovephilly Summer Party rocks Spruce Street Harbor Park with live music, bars and more.
On the official opening day, Friday, June 27, the Visit Philly Beer Garden Happy Hour Series helps launch the space to the public with specials and giveaways from 4 to 7 p.m. Although not technically a beer garden, the floating restaurant and the adjoining waterfront park with a wave lawn and hammock garden are going to be a perfect match for the Visit Philly Beer Garden Series.
The entire opening weekend will be programmed with even more waterfront wonderment, too, so stay tuned for additional details.
Constructed of two shipping containers, the restaurant consists of a walk-up window, with all-alfresco seating surrounding the converted serving spaces, including bright Adirondack chairs, picnic tables and bistro tables. (Image by Matt Stanley for Delaware River Waterfront Corporation)
Getting There & Hours
Like all of the waterfront attractions, Spruce Street Harbor Park is super accessible via public transportation, bike and by foot.
To arrive by foot, cross Columbus Boulevard at Spruce Street (just past the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial) and you’ve arrived.
By SEPTA, take the Market-Frankford Line to 2nd Street, or numerous SEPTA buses stop at or near the Spruce Street Harbor Park and Penn's Landing, as well as the Philly Phlash this summer.
By car, look for parking lots located at Lombard Circle, Walnut and Market Streets at Columbus Boulevard.
For additional directions to the site, check here.
As for the hours, Spruce Street Harbor Park will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. all summer long. That’s a ton of potential hammock time!
The hours for The Blue Anchor are yet to be set, but the Boardwalk concession and games will operate daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Plus, every Saturday look for the Art Star Pop-Up Market from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Stay tuned for even more on what promises to be a sensational summertime destination.
Spruce Street Harbor Park
When: Daily, June 27-August 31, 11 a.m.-1 a.m.
Where: 401 S. Columbus Boulevard at Spruce Street
Cost: Free admission
More info: www.sprucestreetharborpark.com
More than 50 colorful hammocks are just waiting for summer lounging in the Hammock Park at the Columbus Monument at Spruce Street Harbor Park. (Image by Matt Stanley for Delaware River Waterfront Corporation)