Upgrades to Manayunk Towpath Discussed

The Manayunk Development Corporation hosted a meeting Wednesday to discuss future development of the boardwalk and towpath next to the Manayunk Canal.

"We're in the very early stages of this process," said Landscape Architect Chris Mendel who will be working on the design portion of the project.  "I want to familiarize myself with the kids of ideas and things you'd like to see on the towpath."

Mendel went on to show what other city's around the world have done to incorporate canals and towpaths into an urban city.

Examples ranged from Washington D.C.'s Georgetown Canal to San Antonio's Riverwalk.  

"We want to create something that will enhance recreation, energize businesses and create a connection to the river and the neighborhood," Mendel said.

Several people present at the meeting said that setting the tone of the towpath would be crucial.  They said that they didn't want it to become just another college alleyway.

Mendel said that a lot of cities have turned canal areas into a place that supplements an urban commercial corridor.

"We want to make it a place unto itself," Mendel said.  "But, we also want it to be related to the rest of the area."

Several residents said that they would like the towpath to become an amenity.  A place to go for a walk after eating a meal.

They also said that they would like to see more events occur that brought people to the towpath.

Mendel said that his firm is just in the beginning phases of considering a design.  He said that a draft of the design wouldn't be out until sometime in April, 2014.

What would you like to see as an upgraded Manayunk Towpath?  Let us know in the comments.