PRETZEL PARK NEWS
Pretzel
Park, 4300 Silverwood Street,
located between Cotton, Rector, Silverwood, and Cresson Streets,
one block above Main Street.
PRETZEL PARK IS OFFICIAL
City Council and the Mayor
passed the bill. Councilman Nutter wrote the legislation and presented it
to City Council to officially change the name of Pretzel Park to Pretzel
Park.
The official name had
been Manayunk Park since the parks creation in 1929. In the minds of residents
and as far back as anyone can remember, Pretzel Park has been Pretzel
Park. We believe the name relates to the pretzel shape of the sidewalks.
That pretzel shape has been recreated with the recent park renovations
which the Councilman funded. A pretzel vendor used to sell Philly Pretzels
in the park so that could have also influenced the name. Now the official
name of the park has come into line with the "real" name of
the park.
In 1999, when the Friends
of Pretzel Park began its affiliation with the Pennsylvania Horticultural
Society's Philadelphia Green program and the Department of Recreation,
signs were installed welcoming visitors to Manayunk Park.
We just received
approval for grant for 2004 to purchase benches, tables, and a large metal
sign in the shape of a pretzel!
An Informal Town Watch
It takes the watchful
eye of local residents and people that use the park to deter vandalism.
Please call 911 if you see suspicious activity in the park. Do not confront
vandals. A call to 911 is the correct procedure to follow. It does
not need to be an emergency to call 911. The operators will prioritize
the call and alert police. They will respond quickly unless they are detained
by other, more important, activities. More importantly, the call will
go on record as an incident in the park and alert the police of the problems.
The park will receive more attention and more police patrol.
DRINKING FOUNTAINS
Pennsylvania Horticultural
Society (PHS) approved another grant for Pretzel Park. The grant was for
two drinking fountains and plumbing. However, due to new restrictions
by the Water Dept. we were only able to repair the plumbing from the street
to the park house, install a backflow preventer and faucet knob in the
house, and add an exterior (above ground) faucet. Plumbing was extended
to the sidewalk but the drinking fountain will have to come from another
grant.
PLAYGROUND SURFACE
August 2003 - The new
play surface in Pretzel Park broke down after less than one year. Several
tiles split and many had gotten soft and spongy. A representative from
the tile manufacturer examined the playground replaced all the tiles.
The surface will remain under scrutiny to catch any problems before the
warranty runs out.
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