Land near prison now free to flourish

PHILADELPHIA Fifteen years ago, the sidewalks around Eastern State Penitentiary were uneven, with weeds growing between the cracks. The sliver of land between the concrete and the former prison's stone walls was in even worse shape.

The soil "had pieces of rebar sticking out of the ground, lots of trash, and a lot of leaves. . . . It was just a mess," said Heidi Siegel, president of the Friends of Eastern State Penitentiary Park.

What's more, parts of the land had been used as an informal dog run.

At 11 a.m. Tuesday, thanks to hours of work by volunteers and money from the city, the Friends of Eastern State, and others, a patch of land along Corinthian Avenue from Brown Street to Fairmount Avenue will be dedicated as the city's latest community project: Corinthian Gardens, a collection of individual plots, grassy areas, picnic benches, and a stone path.

Although largely in its infant stage - the individual plots have not been seeded, for example - residents are excited about the possibilities.

Kate Riccardi, a mother of three who has lived on Corinthian for 10 years, said her boys are excited about what they'll be able to do on the land.

"I think it makes the neighborhood much more appealing," she added. "I think it will improve the whole area."

Ann Stanton, a resident and a volunteer, said she thinks the Gardens are "the best thing that has happened on the street. It's bringing people together in a way you don't normally see."

Her daughter Nancy Houston, who also volunteered and lives on Corinthian, conceded that they have a long way to go: The trees are still young, and the individual plots have not yet been assigned to someone to take care of.

"It's taken a lot of hard work and a lot of people to get to this point. I'm picturing how great it's going to look" when it's finished, Houston said.

Plans include a children's area, edible forest gardens, relaxation gardens, and demonstration gardens.

Getting to Tuesday's dedication required a lot of volunteer hours (work began in 2012) and money to pay for such big-ticket needs as removing bad soil and trucking in good soil. The city kicked in $30,000; the Fairmount Community Development Corp., $10,000; the Friends of Eastern State, $10,000; Peco, $7,000; and the Subaru Foundation of America, $5,000.

"We couldn't have done this without our volunteers. Also, the in-kind donations we received from the city as well as the grants we were awarded were crucial," Siegel said.