Take Me to the River

program logo | Take Me to the River A new grant program to activate Philadelphia's riverfronts and transform the city's relationship to the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers.

Click here to read more about the projects funded by this program. [1.0 MB pdf]

Program Overview

DVRPC awarded the first 13 recipients of its Take Me to the River grant program in October 2008. The program, administrated by DVRPC and funded by the William Penn Foundation, supports planning, programming and capital projects. It is an opportunity for neighborhood groups and nonprofit organizations to further support local revitalization efforts.

Projects must relate to previous riverfront planning efforts in terms of realizing or building a connection to projects, goals and objectives of past plans. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to: capital projects, such as riverfront trails or lighting; planning projects, such as feasibility studies and technical assistance to neighborhoods; and programming, including festivals and ecotourism.

Take Me to the River Grants are intended to support the efforts of riverfront, community-based organizations or citywide groups that will locate a project along the riverfront. The plan, program, or capital project must take place along the Delaware or Schuylkill Rivers in Philadelphia.

Program Goals

  • Bring people and activity to the river for events, programs, and recreation
  • Develop public access to the rivers' edges by enhancing the quality of physical and visual connection between the riverfronts and neighborhoods
  • Establish the riverfronts as distinctive places for residents and visitors
  • Create livable and walkable communities along the riverfronts by encouraging a mix of public improvements
  • Foster civic pride and stewardship of the riverfronts among residents
  • Improve the environmental quality of the riverfronts and educate the public about sustainable riverfront development
  • Build partnerships amongst a diverse set of stakeholder groups and land holding entities to secure long-term investment in the riverfront

2008 Recipients

  • $100,000 to the Schuylkill River Development Corp. for a trail system on the DuPont Crescent section of the Schuylkill Banks linking Bartram's Garden and Fort Mifflin.
  • $75,000 to the Delaware River City Corp. to make structural repairs to the pier and install railing and grass landscaping at Lardner's Point Park.
  • $125,000 to the East Falls Development Corp. for improvements including a restaurant and trail house amenities to the Bathey House at the East Falls Gateway.
  • $100,000 to the New Kensington CDC to provide signage, lighting and public art in and around Penn Treaty Park.
  • $75,000 to the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program for Digital Arts Festivals for the Schuylkill "River Room".
  • $100,000 to the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association to implement a linear park along Spring Garden Street.
  • $75,000 to the Delaware River City Corp. for final design of 1.6 miles of an off-road trail along Delaware Avenue and Allegheny Avenue in Port Richmond as part of the East Coast Greenway.
  • $83,000 to the Pennsylvania Environmental Council for final design of the 58th Street Connector Greenway connecting the Schuylkill River with Cobbs Creek.
  • $50,000 to the Schuylkill River Development Corp. for a feasibility study for a pedestrian bridge accessing the west bank of the Schuylkill River and Bartram's Garden.
  • $49,000 to the Delaware River City Corp. to move the wetland concept plan for Lardner's Point Park into final design and to complete project permitting.
  • $80,000 to the John Bartram Association for planning and design of the Schuylkill Trail section at Bartram's Garden.
  • $25,000 to the New Kensington CDC for Wednesdays on the Waterfront, an eight-week summer concert series for two years at Penn Treaty Park.
  • $63,000 to Pennsylvania Horticultural Society for the Spring Shad Festival at Penn Treaty Park and for the Fall River City Festival.

Application Information

The 2008 round of Take Me to the River has passed; however, you may still view the application packet from 2008, for information on the program's eligibility and selection criteria.