by Michael Burch
In our last Parkside Journal, we reported that the Viola Street Resident’s Association (VSRA) was among several finalists in Philadelphia, for the Knight Foundation Cities Grant. Their plan was to transform a little used alley in their neighborhood and turn it into a community focal point. Well, as we reported they did not receive the grant and future plans for this space were put on hold. That is until recently. The idea was such a good one that a variation of the plan has been picked up by other interested parties.
Now spearheaded by our own Centennial Park CDC & Viola Street Residents Association (VRSA) a unique partnership has formed between Penn Praxis, Bartram Gardens, The Fairmount Park Conservancy, The Free Library, Reading Terminal, and Philadelphia Horticultural Society. With funding from the Knight Foundation they have come together to bring us: “The Viola Alley Connector Project. The Connector project seeks to a create a place where residents and others can gather, share stories, share food, watch movies and reconnect as a community. The First session in the Viola Alley Connector series is planned for September 24, 2016 from 11am. – 4pm. For more information go to the Centennial Park CDC Website at http://centennialparkside.org/
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