Renovation of historic Cobbs Creek Golf Club sparks controversy in Overbrook Park – CBS Philly
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The renovation of the historic Cobbs Creek Golf Club is causing controversy. Some neighbors say the multi-million dollar makeover goes too far.
From the tip of the iceberg, it looks like something really bad happened at the golf club – maybe a storm or a tornado. It’s not, it’s all part of an effort to clean up this historic golf course to make way for a whole new vision.
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Drone Watch 3 pilots above Cobbs Creek.
This calm waterway is notorious for being fierce after storms and because of this, for decades raging waters have chiseled the integrity of the linked Cobbs Creek and Karakung golf courses.
An aggressive plan has taken shape to rehabilitate this historic public golf club after its closure in 2020.
Millions and millions of dollars go into making this place a professional golfer’s destination.
Neighbors immediately noticed the transformation.
“Well, it’s a peaceful golf course. Like we used to toboggan there when we were younger,” said Angel Goins. “Looks like a storm has passed now.”
In fact, much of the growth and forest was felled, stretches of riverbank along the streams were visible for the first time in generations.
The landscape that was once dense with overgrowth, view courtesy of Google Maps, is now bare.
(Credit: Google Maps)
Trees fell everywhere. The golf course looks post-apocalyptic.
Some wonder if they missed a major storm.
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There have been questions and criticisms about the number of trees felled.
The Cobbs Creek Foundation declined to speak to Eyewitness News on camera.
“It looks tough out there,” council member Curtis Jones said.
It’s in Jones’ district, and despite the current appearance, he’s excited about the prospect of a revived course.
“After all the divestment, there are investments coming, over $60 million in an urban environment that will increase property values for everyone in the neighborhood,” Jones said.
Meanwhile, Troy Walker says he and his neighbors expect property values to rise when the ribbon is cut.
He envisions an early evening with a view of the action on the fairway from his back deck.
“Certainly a lot of neighbors are basically saying that instead of selling their house or renting out, they’re just going to do Airbnb,” Walker said, “because everyone here has a deck. So who wouldn’t love to be on terrace while Airbnbing watches celebrities play golf?”
The roughness is said to be temporary.
The tee time for what should be a golfer’s paradise is tentatively set for 2024.
According to the Cobbs Creek Foundation website, most of the cleared trees were not salvageable.
The place is very unique in history. It was actually a military episode for a time in the 1950s and 1960s during the Cold War. This damaged part of the golf course and started what became a 50-60 year period of neglect.
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The city and the partnership with the foundation hope to turn things around with this renovation.
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