Flooding at Schuylkill River Park Persists, Blocking Trail Access
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Flooding at Schuylkill River Park Persists, Blocking Trail Access
By James Young
A long-standing drainage problem at Schuylkill River Park continues to impede access to the Schuylkill River Trail, frustrating neighbors and raising questions about the City's willingness to address basic infrastructure issues.
For more than three years, a flooded area near the park's entrance ramp has formed a large, lingering pool after rainstorms, often making the trail inaccessible to pedestrians. The conditions are especially prohibitive for wheelchair users and others with mobility limitations.
Children Play in "Markward Lake"
Though multiple areas of the park flood after storms, the worst trouble spot is the low-lying zone around the trail ramp and adjacent stairs. Friends of Schuylkill River Park (FSRP) board member Andy Dalzell called it a "de facto lake," noting that children have begun referring to it as "Markward Lake" and riding bikes and scooters through the standing water.
Parents have voiced concerns about potential sewage or other contaminants in the floodwater, which can persist for days.
Aging Pipe, Stalled Repairs
Dalzell says the cause of the issue is a clogged pipe that runs from the base of the ramp to the river. Although the Water Department and the Parks & Recreation Department have made several site visits to investigate, Dalzell said efforts to clear the pipe have achieved only "minimal progress." With the pipe in fragile condition, fully clearing it with high-pressure water risks damaging it further.
Ra’Chelle Rogers, Director of Communications for the Parks & Recreation Department, did not respond to a request for comment. Brian Rademaekers, a media representative for the Water Department, confirmed that the Department had made multiple visits to the park, but did not provide information as to any potential future actions.
Neighbors Step In as City Stalls
Dalzell and fellow board member Dave Metz emphasized that while FSRP has raised funds to support City efforts, the underlying issue goes beyond what a volunteer group can fix. They have engaged with elected officials, including City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, State Senator Nikil Saval, and others, but have yet to see any commitment to a lasting solution.
Some neighbors have taken matters into their own hands. After heavy rains, Metz, Dalzell, and FSRP board member Michajlo Matijkiw have gone to the site to pump water from the pooled area themselves, as well as to, as Metz says, "shovel sludge."
From the Community
Catch Fitler Square artist Scott Jackson’s neighborhood-inspired paintings in the F.A.N. Gallery’s 2025 summer group show. Show runs through August 22.
