HACE Trail & Railyard Park

The Hispanic Association of Contractors and Enterprises (HACE) is an organization dedicated to the revitalization of communities, properties, parks, and open spaces in Eastern North Philadelphia. We are working with them to design a trail and public park in the Fairhill Neighborhood of Philadelphia along the Conrail train line. The new trail will be used for walking, jogging, and biking as part of the HACE 2025 Neighborhood Plan, and will be comprised of two segments on Gurney Street- (1) Between A & B Streets, and (2) On Tusculum Street between B and Front Streets. The design of this trail and public park his will create a pedestrian connection across the Conrail Line, alleviate the division it creates between neighborhoods, and provide a new public use of the space. The design and construction of the HACE Walking Trail is part of continuing efforts to clean up and beautify the neighborhood and will serve as a starting point for a future link between the neighborhood and the Delaware Waterfront.

PZS is working closely with HACE’s Livability Academy, a six-member team made of interested and involved stakeholders with whom we meet weekly to help design the park, review progress, and address community concerns. Any issues are then brought to the community at large, refined, and then presented for comment and revision at the next meeting. This collaboration has allowed us to become deeply engaged with the neighborhood and surrounding community. We have given presentations, participated in events, and worked with HACE to get the word out about what we are doing and why.