Last Chance for Manayunk to Shape Venice Island

Before the ink dries, or more appropriately, the dust settles, Kay Sykora wants Manayunk to reconsider what the future for Venice Island holds.

The executive director for the Schuylkill Project quiered the Manayunk Neighborhood Council last week regarding the recreation areas at the public space on Venice Island.

"Once it's in, it's in. We have another chance to took a look and make sure we all get what we want," Sykora said Wednesday.

Currently under a container tank and the Manayunk Performing Arts Center, Venice Island will also add public recreation areas where a pool, basketball court and hockey rink once stood. Most likely, the Manayunk Sport and Social Club will program the facility. 

Sykora told the Manayunk Neighborhood Council that four basketball courts are what's being planned. If that's a problem, now's the time to speak up.

Resident MJ Czerpak felt a need for a youth hockey league still existed and that the rink should go back, a sentiment other residents spoke to support.

"I'm not a hockey person myself, but I know the people who are involved here. There's a need for them to be represented, and I think we should keep the rink," she said.

Another, self-described, long-time resident said the park should reflect what's equitable.

"It's always been a basketball court and hockey rink down there. I only think it's fair to keep it that way," he said.

MNC trustee David Bass said residents on his blocks were hockey fiends.

Another area of discussion is how the plans will look. The basketball court is currently facing the Schuylkill River, which Sykora said could be problematic.

"The way this is laid out now is that all the balls are going roll down and end up in the Fairmount Dam," she said.

Some people thought fencing provided a common-sense answer, but others worried about the aesthetic.

"The goal of this project is to integrate the landscape with the improvements on Venice Island," Jillian Deriks said. "I think the fencing would separate it."

Either way, Sykora said interested resident should speak up now. MNC President Kevin Smith can contact mail@manayunkcouncil.org with ideas or if they want to help shape the project.