Mural Celebrating Trolley Travel Will Be Dedicated Aug. 7th in University City

Philadelphia, 5th August 2002 -- University City District (UCD) and the Philadelphia Department of Recreation’s Mural Arts Program (MAP) will dedicate a new mural, "Historic Trolleys of Philadelphia," on Wednesday, 7th August at 5:30 p.m. at 45th Street and Baltimore Avenue.

The mural was sponsored by UCD as part of its comprehensive commercial corridor support strategy. At the eastern gateway to the heart of Baltimore Avenue’s shopping and dining, the wall space was donated for the project by property owner Sam Syed.

Two scenes of trolley travel of yesteryear evoke Philadelphia’s longtime connection to the streetcar. The upper view, rendered in color, is of a passenger looking out from a trolley while it traverses the Strawberry Mansion Bridge. The lower image, taken from a c. 1909 photograph, shows a busy street scene of pedestrians, shoppers, and a trolley on 12th Street outside the Reading Terminal Market. To capture the photographic effect, the scene was painted in a soft black and white. The mural was created by MAP staff muralist Kurt Yoder.

The #34 trolley that connects Center City via Baltimore Avenue to University City has the highest trolley ridership in the city. Although it operates as a subway from 15th Street to 37th Street, at 40th Street it emerges as a streetcar and stops at every corner to 61st Street. University City is served also by the #10, #11, #13, and #36 trolleys.

Among those invited to make remarks at the dedication are Jane Golden, Mural Arts Program Artistic Director; Jannie L. Blackwell, 3rd District Councilwoman; James R. Roebuck, 188th District State Representative; PA Senator Anthony Hardy Williams; and Barry Grossbach, UCD Board of Directors.

The Mural Arts Program is a municipally funded public art program that works in partnership with community residents, grassroots organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, corporations and philanthropies to design and create murals of enduring value while actively engaging youth in the process.

University City District builds effective partnerships to maintain a clean and safe environment and to promote, plan, and advocate for University City's diverse urban community. UCD's programs to improve streetscapes and parks, remove trash and graffiti, provide technical assistance to home- and business owners, increase public safety, and publicize University City's advantages have improved the quality of life since 1997.

Release Date: Monday, August 5th 2002