Back in October, we told you about the completed pedestrian connector bridge linking Schuylkill River Park with the Schuylkill River Trail, and also gave you the early lowdown on a planned 2,000 foot “floating boardwalk” extending the trail to the South Street bridge. At that time, the only sign of this next phase for the trail was the presence of a barge in the river, tasked with drilling down into the river to install support columns to hold up the boardwalk. Well, it seems that in that task, workers have been successful.

Supports in the water

Perhaps a clearer view

According to Saundra Falska from the Schuylkill River Development Corporation, the project is moving along well, though perhaps running a month or two behind schedule. But it was in our brief conversation with Falska that we found out about a heretofore unknown aspect of the project. “We decided to a get a little playful with this project,” said Falska, “so we’re adding a small beach area to the trail. We figured it will fit right in with the boardwalk, and give this section of the trail a bit of a different feel.”

Future beach

A general idea of the location of the beach area once the boardwalk is complete

Remember Sugarbeach? Last summer, Sugarhouse ran an odd promotion where they threw over a hundred tons of sand onto the public walkway behind the casino, creating a beach-like atmosphere for a week. Well, the casino held onto the sand after Sugarbeach ended with plans to do it again in 2013. But after Sugarbeach wraps up this year, Sugarhouse will be donating most of the sand needed for the Schuylkill Beach project. Waste not want not, right?

Probably won't be quite this festive

It’s a shame that Schuylkill Beach won’t be ready in time for the summer of 2013- the SRDC isn’t interested in putting down the sand before the boardwalk is closer to completion. But hopefully by the time summer 2014 rolls around, residents and visitors will be able to catch some rays by the river on a beach towel.

We certainly give SRDC credit for some out-of-the-box thinking, but we wonder will people embrace a mini-beach on the Schuylkill? Will it get some of the Rittenhouse sunbathers to abandon the Square for a spot that feels a little more like being downashore? And perhaps most importantly, can a Kohr Bros. stand possibly be far behind?