Gorgas Park Pedestrian Safety Improvement Work Beginning This Week

ROXBOROUGH, PHILADELPHIA — Work to improve safety in Roxborough's Gorgas Park is starting this week.

According to the Roxborough Development Corporation, construction will begin this week.

The work is expected to be completed by the end of April.

The Gorgas Park Safety Improvement Project will replace damaged sidewalks, widen the parking lane, and add sidewalk bump outs along the park side of Ridge Avenue.

These improvements will calm traffic and make it safer for residents to walk or drive to the park, officials said.

Gorgas Park will remain accessible via the Acorn and Hermitage street entrances.

Construction will take place on weekdays only.

During construction, the sidewalk along the Gorgas Park side of Ridge Avenue between Acorn and Hermitage streets and both parking lanes will be closed. Pedestrians will be provided with a safe, well-marked detour using the sidewalk across from Gorgas Park between Acorn and Hermitage Streets.

Both parking lanes along the Gorgas Park side of Ridge Avenue will be closed while the work is underway.

Travel lanes on Ridge Avenue will remain open with traffic control during the day.

The project has been made possible through grants from Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr., the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, and the PA Department of Economic and Community Development, with advocacy and contributions by the Roxborough Development Corporation and Friends of Gorgas Park, according to the corporation.

"We are grateful to Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. for making this critical project possible," Jax Cusack, Executive Director of the Roxborough Development Corporation, said. "The Gorgas Park Safety Improvement Project supports the RDC’s vision for a more walkable Ridge Avenue commercial corridor."

"Our Friends group brought Gorgas Park back to life," John Boyce, President of Friends of Gorgas Park, said. "This project supports the great work we've done to restore and enhance Roxborough’s 'Central Park.'"