On May 17, 2017, KOP-BID officially opened the demonstration project of THE PARK, a 450 FT Linear Park Demonstration Project at 650 Park Avenue, located in the heart of the King of Prussia business park.

In April 2015, KOP-BID and Upper Merion Township (UMT) started work on a visionary 2.6 mile Linear Park for First Avenue. Once complete in late 2018/early 2019, Phase One of THE PARK will transform currently under-utilized, private lawn areas into a cohesive, continuous, active and beautiful amenity open to the public. THE PARK will include multi-use sidewalks, lush landscaping, pedestrian lighting, active workstations, recreational games, benches and trash receptacles. Additional funding is needed to complete Phase Two of the Linear Park, which will continue THE PARK from American Avenue to Allendale Road.

The first-of-its-kind Linear Park is a unique collaboration between KOP-BID (a private, not-for-profit business improvement district), UMT, PennDOT and 21 private property owners (26 parcels) to create an active and vibrant amenity open to the public, utilizing access easements on private property.

In fall 2016, KOP-BID began construction on THE PARK’s Demonstration Project to showcase many of the amenities that the full park will include. THE PARK’s demonstration project is funded, in part, by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority provided through UMT and managed by KOP-BID, along with matching funds from Brandywine Realty Trust and KOP-BID.

Benefits of THE PARK include, but are not limited to:

• Beautification and enhanced overall appeal of the business park community
• Increased connectivity throughout the business park
• Increased public space uses through pocket parks and sidewalks
• Enhanced multi-modal travel and traveler safety
• Removal of significant gaps within the business park’s pedestrian network and increased safety for pedestrians
• Economic revitalization
• Opportunities for green infrastructure

THE PARK is part of an overall ‘complete streets’ vision for First Avenue. Subsequent phases will include:

• Road Diet adding bike lanes and safe, center turn lanes along First Avenue. The project is fully funded and construction is anticipated to begin in 2017.
• King of Prussia Rail providing direct access with two station stops in the business park
• Proposed interchange improvements to better connect the business park to the PA Turnpike and Schuylkill Expressway

KOP-BID, in partnership with UMT, has raised more than $4M for design and implementation of the First Avenue Linear Park and Road Diet.

Medians

Since 2011, KOP-BID has landscaped roadway medians along DeKalb Pike and First Avenue, landscaped portions of Henderson Road, and installed landscaping at the I-76 off ramp. The former concrete medians are now full of life year-round with lush perennials, shrubs, grasses, and bulbs.

In 2012, the landscaped medians were recognized by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) with a Community Greening Award.

Roadways

KOP-BID funded $75,000 worth of landscape improvements to Henderson Road in spring 2013, as part of the Henderson Road expansion project completed by Upper Merion Township (UMT). The landscape improvements included a mix of 495 native PA shrubs, 54 shade and ornamental flowering trees, and 750 perennials and groundcovers. In early 2013, KOP-BID installed 8,000 flower bulbs at Exit 329 off of the Schuylkill Expressway. The bulbs were donated to KOP-BID by America Responds with Love, in cooperation with the King of Prussia Mall.

Business Park Gateway

In summer 2014, KOP-BID completed landscape improvements at First Avenue and N. Gulph Road to create an entryway to the King of Prussia business park. The $128,000 project dramatically improved the primary entrance into the business park and included: ten (10) twenty-five foot tall flagpoles, landscape lighting, dozens of trees, hundreds of shrubs, perennials, and grasses.

To help define King of Prussia’s boundaries and welcome people, KOP-BID designed and managed the installation of six 22’ tall, 4.5’ wide, LED illuminated gateway signs at key intersections. KOP-BID later installed landscaping around each gateway sign.