MISSION

The mission of the Delaware River City Corp. is to revitalize a sustainable riverfront corridor in Northeast Philadelphia by reconnecting the people, places, businesses, and neighborhoods of the City of Philadelphia and the surrounding region to the Delaware River while simultaneously promoting a diversity of uses through implementation of the North Delaware Riverfront Greenway Plan.

VISION
We envision a revitalized riverfront with a broad diversity of uses, including a prominent greenway with publicly accessible parks and open space, a continuous recreational trail, thriving businesses and industry, new residential communities, green connector streets to the adjacent neighborhoods, and an ecologically restored riverbank.

The Delaware River City Corp. (DRCC) was formed in 2004 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization by former Congressman Robert Borski and was recognized by the City of Philadelphia and charged in 2006 to guide and facilitate the implementation process for the North Delaware Riverfront Greenway Plan.

The completed Greenway Plan includes:

• Eleven miles of riverfront greenway, inlcuding trails, parks, green connector streets, and trailheads with parking and restrooms.
• Neighbors and visitors using the trails, parks, and connector streets comprising the Greenway. 
• Neighbors, local civic organizations, businesses, and visitors engaged in maintaining and assisting with the security of the Greenway. 
• A volunteer infrastructure providing leadership for communications, trail tending, park management, and fundraising committees.

HISTORY
The seeds of creating a "river renaissance" along the Delaware Riverfront north of Center City picked up steam in the late 1990's when then Congressman Bob Borski invited the region's government and business leaders to take a boat cruise along the river and see the miles of vacant property as well as the opportunities presented by the underutilized riverfront lands. For the last 50 years, the river has been a "back door" to the city.

With the support and urging of the local elected officials, the City and the Delaware River Port Authority funded the development of a new Vision Plan under the direction of Philadelphia's City Planning Commission to address making the Delaware Riverfront become the "front door" to new mixed-use neighborhoods, ecological restoration and public recreational opportunities.

To further this "green infrastructure" aspect of the Plan, Bob Borski and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) invited riverfront businesses, leaders of riverfront Community Development Corporations, City agencies and cabinet members, non-profit organizations, and elected officials to participate on the Northeast Riverfront Task Force to shape community vision for the riverfront.

It was during this process, in 2004, that Congressman Borski formed a non-profit organization, the Delaware River City Corp. (DRCC).  The North Delaware Greenway Master Plan (2005) lays-out much of the physical infrastructure to be built. In 2006, the entity was recognized by the City of Philadelphia and charged to guide and facilitate the implementation process for the Greenway Plan, to bring it to its fullest and best fruition.

In the Fall 2008, the DRCC dedicated with our partner the Fairmount Park Commission, the first new segment of trail which gives access from the Pennypack on the Delaware Park to the mouth of the Pennypack Creek. The Pennypack Park Trail Extension project includes ¾ miles of paved trail, benches and trash receptacles, as well as, a crushed stone path leading to an overlook at the mouth of the Pennypack Creek. A heretofore inaccessible area of the Park has become accessible to the public and use has been heavy.

You can now support DRCC with both your online donations and purchases!

Click on the link below for more information.

Donate

Board and Staff
Board Chair
Bob Borski
Principal, Borski Associates
Board Vice Chair
James A. Donaghy
Development Coordinator, Dept. of Commerce
Designee for Alan Greenberger (ex-officio)
Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development - Commerce Director
Board Secretary
Patrick Starr 
Vice President, Pennsylvania Environmental Council
Treasurer
Mark Hankin 
President, Hankin Management Co.
Members
James J. Anderson
President, James J. Anderson Construction Co. 
Donald P. Brennan 
Director of Special Projects, Phila. Regional Port Authority 
Duane Bumb
Senior Deputy Director, Phila. Commerce Department
Michael Driscoll
Managing Partner, Finnigan's Wake 
Ronald Greller 
CEO, Morris Iron & Steel 
Nancy Hartey
Chief of Staff, PA Rep. Michael McGeehan 
Frank Mayer, III, Esquire 
Pepper Hamilton, LLP
Anthony Naccarato
Tacony Community Development Corp. 
Bud Newman
Newman Paperboard Inc.
Joseph Slabinski
Bridesburg Community Development Corp. 

Business Leadership Committee
Co Chairs:
DRCC Board Members -
Michael Driscoll & Anthony Naccarato

Members:
Joseph Bauer, Citizens Bank
Ernest DeNofa, DeNofa, Inc.
Thomas Forkin, Esq., Magnetic Metals
Rebecca Greller, Morris Iron & Steel
Mark Hankin, Hankin Management
Tara Hemmer, Waste Management
Frank A. Mayer, III, Esq., Pepper Hamilton, P.C.
Jim McAneney, Philadelphia Federal Credit Union
Jim McCarthy, Muller, Inc.
Joe Nicoletti, Nicoletti Beverage Center, Inc.
Bernard Newman, Newman & Company, Inc.
Joseph Slabinski, Slabinski Funeral Homes
Jon Wybar, Revolution Recovery

Staff
Executive Director:
Thomas J. Branigan, P.E., P.L.S.
Office Administrator :
Jim Coughlin
Consultant
Development Coordinator:
Sam Friedman