![]() ![]() The pier itself is just a slice of land that extends into the river, but it is connected to a largely uninterrupted swath of tidal vegetation from Schirra Drive to Westway Terminal. Graffiti Pier already possesses many of the perks associated with a contemporary urban park, namely green space, creative placemaking, and shade from direct sunlight. The case for preserving Graffiti Pier has been made before, most notably by Conrad Benner, founder of the online Philly street art journal, Streets Dept, Liz Spikol for Philadelphia Magazine, and, way back in the early oughts, Hidden City co-editor Bradley Maule on his website, Philly Skyline. Designating the pier and surrounding parcel for reuse as a park would not only formalize an already popular public space, but it would also present a number of trash clean up and riparian conservation opportunities as well, following the models of Washington Avenue Pier, Pier 68, and the Schuylkill River Trail. ![]() The allure of the pier’s endless rotation of graffiti art, magnificent views of the Delaware waterfront, and accessible, well-trodden paths makes it an ideal candidate for the acquisition and reuse as an official public park.Ī woman tries out her new camera with her husband inside the ruins of the old coal-loading pier. Today, the pier is a widely popular destination among locals and explorers of all stripes who treat the industrial ruins like an evolving folk art museum and a riverside park.Īlthough Graffiti Pier is still considered private property, it is one of the most Instagrammed places in Philadelphia and has become a magnet for curious day trippers across the region. Nature and graffiti writers have since reclaimed the hulking, concrete pile. The former anthracite coal-loading pier, part of Reading Railroad’s sprawling Port Richmond Yards, was decommissioned and abandoned by current owners Conrail in 1991. ![]() Pier 18 aka Graffiti Pier – Marked as a Public ParkĬars line up on the weekend along Beach Street at the entrance to the city’s best outdoor art space, Graffiti Pier. A young family of five sets off to explore Graffiti Pier on a recent Saturday morning despite gusty winds and 40-degree temperatures. ![]()
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