Our vision is to build a three mile greenway
One that connects people to the city and each other
The Rail Park started with Phase One, a quarter-mile section of the historic elevated Viaduct in Philadelphia. After years of planning and fundraising, it opened to the public in 2018.
Our full vision reaches for miles
Download the full mapPhase One of the Rail Park is now open, and this is just the beginning. Our plans for the park reach across three miles of historic rail lines, connecting 10+ neighborhoods from Northern Liberties to Brewerytown — and our goal is to bring the whole park to life.
We want this site to become a greenway, filled with pathways and plants, with open spaces and inviting faces, and all kinds of programming that will serve Philadelphians and visitors alike.
Strengthening community
This park will be anchored and activated by community programming celebrating Philadelphia’s unique arts and culture, nature, and health and wellness opportunities.
Connecting 10+ neighborhoods
When finished, this park will reach from Northern Liberties to Brewerytown, connecting many neighborhoods in between.
Three miles, three sections
Our vision reaches for three full miles, with three distinct sections that run underground, between streets, and overhead.
A movement for public space
The Rail Park is part of a growing movement of infrastructure reuse projects, supporting community development and transforming cities in the process.
Connected across cities
As a part of the High Line Network, we are working to bring bold, transformative and inclusive public space to life for Philadelphians and visitors alike.
A green space for all
This park is being built for young and old, artists and athletes, neighbors and visitors alike, connecting Philadelphians to the city and each other.
Strengthening community
This park will be anchored and activated by community programming celebrating Philadelphia’s unique arts and culture, nature, and health and wellness opportunities.
Connecting 10+ neighborhoods
When finished, this park will reach from Northern Liberties to Brewerytown, connecting many neighborhoods in between.
Three miles, three sections
Our vision reaches for three full miles, with three distinct sections that run underground, between streets, and overhead.
A movement for public space
The Rail Park is part of a growing movement of infrastructure reuse projects, supporting community development and transforming cities in the process.
The Viaduct
The Viaduct is an elevated section of the former Philadelphia and Reading Railway and its 9th Street Branch.
The now unused rail line reaches from the site of Phase One down to Vine Street, then arcs back north and east toward Fairmount Ave. When complete, this stunning section of the park will overlook city streets and offer incredible skyline views.
The Cut
The Cut is an open air section of land that runs below street level, connecting the Viaduct to the Tunnel.
It runs from North Broad Street near the old Inquirer Building to behind the Rodin Museum, where 22nd St meets Pennsylvania Ave. It’s lined with 30-foot high stone walls and crossed by a series of bridges that support the city’s north and south bound streets.
The Tunnel
The Tunnel is a wide, beautiful space extending 3,000 feet underneath Pennsylvania Ave between 22nd and 27th Streets.
Open air shafts in the streetscape above illuminate the space with natural light, while the stone walls and vaulted brick ceilings reach 25 ft high.
The Future
We’ve conducted a feasibility study that was completed in 2023.
Friends of the Rail Park has completed a comprehensive Feasibility and Visioning Study which establishes a conceptual vision for the Park and underscores the importance of its equitable development.
Friends of the Rail Park is advancing plans for The Cut as the next phase of development, focusing on creating an Equitable Development Plan and fostering collaboration with community stakeholders. This study provides a clear understanding of the costs, feasibility, and next steps needed to realize the vision, with continued support from partners and the community.
The study helped to formalize the 3-Mile Vision, a dynamic blueprint for the future that embraces the Friends of the Rail Park’s mission to build a three mile greenway that connects people to the city and each other. If you'd like to read the study, contact us at friends@therailpark.org.
Friends of the Rail Park will continue to work in partnership with developers, institutions, neighborhood groups, residents and other stakeholders to plan for future phases of the Park and advocate for its equitable development.