Construction Begins on First Ave. Linear Park

Project Part of a Comprehensive Plan for the Business Park

At the end of October, KOP-BID kicked off the construction of the First Avenue Linear Park with a 450 FT Demonstration Project at 650 Park Avenue. The contractor, Ply-Mar Construction Company, will complete installation of the new hardscape and landscape on this segment of the park in early December with plantings to follow soon under good weather.

When complete in winter 2016, the Demonstration Project will provide employees, residents and visitors a window into what the full First Avenue Linear Park will entail. Exciting features of the future 2.6-mile Linear Park include: landscaping, pedestrian lighting,flowering plants and trees, active workstations and recreational spaces.

The Linear Park is part of KOP-BID and Upper Merion Township’s comprehensive plan for the KOP business park that includes multi-modal transportation improvements (First Avenue Road Diet, PA Turnpike Interchange Enhancements and KOP Rail Extension), along with the previous zoning changes in 2014. Funding for the Linear Park is provided, in part, by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority provided through Upper Merion Township, along with significant donations from Brandywine Realty Trust and KOP-BID.

Designs for the full First Avenue Linear Park are getting developed by the landscape architect, Ground Reconsidered, and final construction drawings are expected in 2017, with construction slated for 2018.