South Wetlands Park
The South Philadelphia Wetlands Park is a testbed for innovative adaptive reuse techniques and technologies that could serve as a unique model for urban ecological restoration.
As part of the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation’s effort to turn abandoned areas along the Delaware River into a thriving park system, KCI, formerly McLaren Engineering Group, and the project team focused on design concepts for Piers 64, 67 and 70. The concepts blended public access with the creation of terrestrial and aquatic habitats intended to strengthen resiliency and support ecological vitality in the area.
Working with the public to develop an ecological, community-centered park, the team explored concepts that used natural processes for riverbank stabilization and innovative wave-energy dissipation to support a more resilient waterfront.
The project team evaluated design alternatives that considered pier reconstruction, vegetation, habitat creation, boardwalk alignment, and wave attenuation strategies. These alternatives included linear and curved boardwalk options connecting the piers, as well as a deep breakwater, wave screen, and upland habitat. Each concept was developed to provide a nature-based public space with a refined framework, resilient ecology, and access for all.
