Project Description

Lardner’s Point is located along the Delaware River in the Tacony neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA. The 4.5 acre site was used as a ferry terminal that provided service between Tacony and Palmyra, NJ until the opening of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge in 1929. After the ferry service ceased operations, the land remained vacant under the ownership of the city. By the 2000s, all that remained were a deteriorated concrete pad, dilapidated dock and boat ramp, extensive concrete bulkheading along the shoreline, and areas vegetated with invasive species. In the early 2010s, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (PPR) collaborated with the non-profit Delaware River City Corporation (DRCC) to redevelop the site and create an urban waterfront park. Lardner's Point Park opened to the public in 2012 and includes a fishing pier, trails for biking and walking, and native landscaping to eliminate the need for irrigation. Utilizing funds from the M/T Athos I oil spill settlement, the shoreline was restored and tidal freshwater wetlands were created. The project included demolishing the boat ramp and bulkheads, removing the concrete debris, and re-grading the riverbank to allow for tidal inundation. Native plantings were added and a toe sill was created using excavated rock to stabilize the marsh and protect it from erosion. This living shoreline approach created approximately 0.9 acres of tidal freshwater marsh and wet meadow habitat. Invasive species were also removed and a one year monitoring period was instituted following the completion of the project.

Restoration Land Ownership

City of Philadelphia; County or Municipal

Parties Implementing Restoration

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; Philadelphia Parks and Recreation

DOI Project Representatives

Fish and Wildlife Service