A little over a month ago, we took you on a tour of an in-progress Pier 53. The makings of the park were in place as the beach was outlined and there was a large hole at the tip of the pier that signaled the coming of the parks statement piece: a 55-foot tall beacon entitled Land Buoy. The Passyunk Post recently swung by Pier 53 to have a look-see and found that Jody Pinto's public art installation has been erected and also found out that the park could open as early as August 15th.
As for Land Buoy, the large metal beacon will have a solar powered light at the top as well as a spiral staircase that visitors will be able to climb inside to get an elevated view of the surrounding area, including the mighty Delaware River. The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation's website calls it a "bird-in-the-trees" view. Pinto's work speaks to the history of the pier as an immigration station and celebrates the tremendous ecology that has developed on the site due to its, shall we say, inactivity for a number of years. Whenever it officially opens (that date of August 15th is still unconfirmed), Pier 53 will feature better signage at the entrance on Washington Avenue and Columbus Boulevard, a large "boardwalk" that gives visitors yet another vantage point of the pier and the Delaware River and also be the connecting trail to Pier 68, the southern most park on the Delaware River Trail that is set to open sometime in the summer/fall of 2015.
· 'Land Buoy' installed at Pier 53; park may open by Aug. 15 [Passyunk Post]
· Pier 53 Official Site [Delaware River Waterfront Corporation]
· Sneak Peek: Pier 53 is Starting to Take Shape in Pennsport [Curbed Philly]
· Salter Spiral Stair