Petty's Island in the Delaware River

Once one of many islands in the Delaware River between Camden and Philadelphia, today Petty's Island stands alone.

Petty's Island is geographically unique, almost 300 acres of land in a mighty tidal river situated between two states and three municipalities. It is all but unknown, even to its closest neighbors, having been owned by the subsidiary of a foreign government and totally inaccessible to the public for decades.

The island has a rich but forgotten history. It was a bustling hub of trade and industry. Now its scattered buildings rust from neglect. It was the planned site of an airport, an amusement park and, most recently, a high-rise luxury development. But most area residents know it only as a place they have seen from afar but never actually experienced.

This plan shows how Petty's Island, once restored to a healthy, vibrant ecosystem, can become a recreational and cultural destination for the entire Delaware Valley. Its unique geography can offer an ecological experience in the midst of large and dense metropolitan area.
The future of Petty's Island and the sur¬rounding park lands is dependent upon strategic sequencing of investments to build sustained momentum and enduring assets. The following recommendations outline proposed environmental remedia¬tion and enhancement, open space devel¬opment, phasing of investments, and long term stewardship strategies.

Fulfilling the promise that a permanent conservation easement on Petty's Island offers requires time, resources, and the on¬going diligent stewardship of its transfor¬mation. Therefore, the key considerations of an implementation strategy should in¬clude the following:
• Timeline for environmental restoration
• Developmental phasing of in¬frastructure, parks, art, and cul¬tural institutions
• Functional and efficient man¬agement structure
• Innovative funding opportuni¬ties
• Public and private stewardship that engages local communi¬ties and regional tourism
• Marketing program that rein¬forces the island's identity