Burlington City's planned waterfront promenade discussed

After seeing plans for a new riverfront promenade in Burlington City, several people at a special meeting Thursday night pressed the landscape architect for an answer to one question.

"Can you give us a date when this will be done?" Jeri Waters asked. "You've been working on it for a while."

Waters and others said the plans looked exciting, but they wondered if it would be years, maybe decades, before the grassy 14-acre space along the Delaware River is beautified.

Richard Newton, a partner with the Philadelphia-based Olin Studios, told the 100 people at the meeting in City Hall that the availability of funding would set the timetable. "I don't want to make any promises," he said.

City Council President David Babula said some of the financing might come from the anticipated $1.8 million sale of city property near the river to a developer who is planning to build market-rate apartments. He said that project, known as Pearl Pointe, could bring the city $250,000 to $350,000 a year in new tax revenue.

The promenade is estimated to cost between $2.5 million and $5 million, based on the final plan, he said. The council is expected to vote on it next month.

Resident Jon Harpool commented that it was a "very nice plan" but wondered whether eliminating the overlook would save money. He said state funding for the project might be difficult to obtain and could take from five to 15 years.

Newton said that the overlook would be a special place. "It's where you would go to propose and where you go to meet someone," he said.

During his presentation, Newton described the new promenade as a "more interesting and more romantic" place than the grassy promenade and sidewalk now there. That space was created about 25 years ago and is used mostly by joggers, boaters, and anglers. Sometimes small concerts and holiday events are held.

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Burlington City's planned waterfront promenade discussed