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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. It 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 extends
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, reach mg 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.
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