Pagoda-Skyline, Inc. - Skyline Drive

The entire Skyline Drive Area is part of the City of Reading Park System.
The park closes at sunset.

The original building of the wall was funded and constructed by the Federal government under the Administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his creation of the W.P.A. The workers constructed the magnificent wall in 1939 that extends the length of Skyline Drive. The wall begins at Reading's most famous landmark, the world-famous Pagoda, and past the equally prominent landmark, the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower in Lower Alsace Township. The wall extends to Mcknight's Gap Road in Alsace Township, where it curves around Oak Lane.

The details of the wall and the areas where the repairs are needed are as follows:

The Stone Wall was formed by part of a Rock Quarry located on the eastern slope of Mount Penn. The wall is approximately 2 feet wide by 3 feet high. This stone wall is dry cast in place and is squared in slope and style. There are approximately 2.5 miles of stone wall that extend across Skyline Drive and at certain places, becoming a double-run. A wall area is also located behind the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower. In addition, the wall extends about one mile in each direction of Oak Lane and List Road. There are three lookouts located on the road, which provides a spectacular view of the City of Reading.

The wall lies on roads of bends and curves, elevations and descent, reaching a summit of 1200 feet above sea level with grades of approximately 3 - 10% across the drive and road widths of 35-80 feet .

Due to natural erosion and general wear with age, the wall has been crumbling in some areas and needs immediate repair work. The restoration will involve stabilizing the bank with 3:1 slopes. At these locations, the wall must be dismantled to allow placement of fill and re-establishment of ground cover. With the new foundation in place, the wall can be rebuilt.

PO Box 1615 Reading Pennsylvania 19603 610-375-6399