Early last week E2P correspondent Signe Wilkinson tipped you to a meeting on the pending deal to bring Ride the Ducks tourist boats - now infamous for a fatal collision on the Delaware River this summer- to the (barge-free) Schuylkill. Today the Daily News has a story by Catherine Lucey indicating that previous reports that this deal was practically a sure thing may have been premature.
It's unclear at this point if that community meeting had anything to do with this development - though the story does mention "substantial opposition in the surrounding neighborhoods" - but once the bidding process was done and Ride the Ducks was the only bidder, the city said nothing was definite and announced a new committee to review the appropriateness of the project.
There are certainly ample environmental and other reasons to examine this deal very closely; and despite our cheeky headline, Earth to Philly is officially agnostic on whether it should go forward. You don't have to be, though - take the "Hot Button" poll and/or let us know in comments below whether you think it's a good idea to have the Ducks ride the Schuylkill.
UPDATE: Thanks for your perspectives... had to repost this alternate "artist's conception" that our first commenter, InNane, submitted... someone actually wondered about this very scenario when I brought up the issue.
Hi Vance. I suspect with some modifications those duck boats might be welcomed by the neighbors. By, say, putting a rake on the front that harvests floating debris in the river? That would mesh nicely with Philly's desire to be a green city. Frankly, on a hot day in August the last place I'd want to be is floating on a river whose flow is made up mostly of wastewater discharge, but then I'm not one for tourist buses of any species. Look here for another "artist's rendition" of the plan: http://phunnyphilly.wordpress.com/2010/10/02/duck-boats-to-move-from-the-delaware-to-the-schuylkill/— InNane
It's a good idea. It shows tourists that there is more to Philadelphia than 5th and Market. The problem is where do the Ducks go in and out of the water?— PHILEXILE- The only ducks that belong in the Schuykill are the feathered ones.— Boru
- i'm not opposed to it and I live in that area.
we are a tourist driven economy. we need to embrace this.— bingo - The location would be below the falls not above as seen in the photo. and the plan as I last heard it was to have the boats enter the river via a new ramp to be created in Schuylkill Banks Park. I don't see much of a problem with it as long as as they implement a safe strategy and they axe the noisemakers - does it really add that much to the duck boat experience to quack-annoy a semi-tranquil park?— Twocents
The experts at Philadelphia's Energy Coordinating Agency answer your energy questions in our regular feature Stay Warm, Stay Green. Send in your question or questions to energy@phillynews.com.
Look for Jenice Armstrong to supply tips on green living as well as occasional columns on the subject of Green. She also blogs at Hey Jen.
Becky Batcha stays tuned for the here-and-now practical side of conservation, alternative energy, organic foods, etc. - stuff you can do at home now. Plus odds and ends.
Laurie Conrad recycles from her ever-growing e-mailbag to pass along the latest travel deals, fashion statements, household strategies, gadgets, cool local events and other nuggets of interest to those who appreciate a clean, green world.
Vance Lehmkuhl looks at topics like eco-conscious eating, public transportation and fuel-efficient driving from his perspective as a vegetarian, a daily SEPTA bus rider and a hybrid driver, as well as noting the occasional wacky trend or product. Contact Vance with your 'green' news.
Ronnie Polaneczky sees the green movement through the eyes of her 12-year-old daughter, who calls her on every scrap of paper or glass bottle that Ronnie neglects to toss into the house recycling bins. Ronnie will blog about new or unexpected ways to go green. She also blogs at So, What Happened Was...
Sandra Shea and the DN editorial board opine on any green-related legislation or policy. And we'll pass along some of the opeds on the subject that people send us.
Jonathan Takiff will be blogging mainly about consumer electronics - those things that we love to use and that suck too much energy. He'll spotlight green-conscious gizmos made in a responsible fashion, both in terms of materials used and the energy it takes to run them.
Signe Wilkinson draws the comic strip Family Tree, which follows the Tree family as they try to live green in the face of nattering neighbors, plastic-wrapped consumer products, and the primal teenage urge to spend vast quantities of money on hair care products of dubious organic quality.
In addition to these updates from our newsroom bloggers, watch for an occasional feature, Dumpster Diver Dispatches, from Philadelphia's original "green" community of artists, the Dumpster Divers. You'll learn about creative ways to reuse and recycle while you reduce, and about the artists who are making little masterpieces from what others throw out.
Sept. 17: A head start on cold season
Oct. 8: Help with fuel bills
Oct. 29: Last-minute ways to winterize
Nov. 19: Budgeting for the big bite
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