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The sun shines (finally) on Spruce Street Harbor Park opening

    By
  • Branden Eastwood
    • May 9, 2016
  • Elizabeth Riggio relaxes in one of the more than 50 hammocks at the Spruce Street Harbor Park.

    Elizabeth Riggio relaxes in one of the more than 50 hammocks at the Spruce Street Harbor Park. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)

  • Visitors to Spruce Street Harbor Park sunbathe in nets strung over the water.

    Visitors to Spruce Street Harbor Park sunbathe in nets strung over the water. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)

  • Professional juggler David Ramsay IV shows off his talents during the opening weekend of the Spruce Street Harbor Park.

    Professional juggler David Ramsay IV shows off his talents during the opening weekend of the Spruce Street Harbor Park. (Branden Eastwood for NewsWorks)

  • Jay Chaplan reads a newspaper on the banks of the Delaware River during opening weekend of the Spruce Street Harbor Park.

    Jay Chaplan reads a newspaper on the banks of the Delaware River during opening weekend of the Spruce Street Harbor Park. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)

  • Lou Troilo celebrates a shuffleboard victory over family members at the opening weekend of the Spruce Street Harbor Park.

    Lou Troilo celebrates a shuffleboard victory over family members at the opening weekend of the Spruce Street Harbor Park. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)

  • Eileen Augustine chats with friends during the opening weekend of the Spruce Street Harbor Park.

    Eileen Augustine chats with friends during the opening weekend of the Spruce Street Harbor Park. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)

  • Visitors to the Spruce Street Harbor Park get ice cream at the S.S. Franklin Fountain during the first weekend of the summer season.

    Visitors to the Spruce Street Harbor Park get ice cream at the S.S. Franklin Fountain during the first weekend of the summer season. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)

  • Alma Nikaé stares through the holes of a giant connect four game during opening weekend of the Spruce Street Harbor Park.

    Alma Nikaé stares through the holes of a giant connect four game during opening weekend of the Spruce Street Harbor Park. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)

  • A group of ducklings nest in a planter along the Delaware River during opening weekend of the Spruce Street Harbor Park.

    A group of ducklings nest in a planter along the Delaware River during opening weekend of the Spruce Street Harbor Park. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)

  • Visitors relax in the sun and shade during the opening weekend of the Spruce Street Harbor Park.

    Visitors relax in the sun and shade during the opening weekend of the Spruce Street Harbor Park. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)

Spruce Street Harbor Park kicked off the 2016 season this weekend as locals and tourists lounged in hammocks, played bocce ball and tossed back beers along the Delaware waterfront.

Assistant general manager Jackie Lai said that popular demand pushed the park into opening a full three weeks earlier than last year. The extra time is giving his staff a head start to work out any kinks and get ready for major events like Philly Beer Week.

This year has the potential to be remarkable for tourism in Philadelphia, what with hosting the Democratic National Convention and being named the best place to visit in the U.S. by the guidebook company Lonely Planet.

While the team at Spruce Street Harbor is not quite ready to make grand predictions about increased numbers of visitors, they are prepared to see an increase over the estimated 750,000 who visited last year.

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The park is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the week and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends through September 25.

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