Several weeks ago a sign (pictured above) was placed just off the Schuylkill Banks river trail about 100 yards before reaching Martin Luther King Blvd heading west (or north). The board, on the site of a future skate park, was meant to explain the recent construction and changes being made to one of the city's newest parks.
The notice, however, was not clear to the many who stopped to read it, or at least part of it. The misunderstanding caused by the sign has put the park in a very awkward position. The title at the top—What's Happening on Schuylkill Banks—led many, if not all, who passed to think actors from the hit 1970's TV show would be paying a visit to the Banks.
"I saw the sign and got really excited," said Barbara Miller, 37, of Fairmount. "I loved What's Happening growing up. I didn't even read the rest of the sign because I left to tell all of my friends."
Unfortunately for the park almost no one continued to read the remainder of the board beyond the title. Had they proceeded, recreationalists would have been briefed on the current upgrades the park was implementing for its throngs of users.
A few of the park's officials are somewhat confused at, well, the confusion over the sign. The park argues that the diagrams and question mark at the title's end should have immediately eliminated the TV sitcom meaning to passersby. Park users argue that the h in happening, however, was uppercase and gave the impression that it was a sitcom title.
"I think [Park users and the Banks] both messed up in this situation. Although, I will say that wouldn't we have included a picture of the cast on the sign if we meant the TV show?" said a Banks representative.
Other Schuylkill Banks officials feel horrible about the situation and have openly admitted that a Please Continue Reading note should have been included at the conclusion of the sign's title sentence.
The park's board voted yesterday and said it will make a valid attempt to bring the surviving cast members to the park: Ernest Lee Thomas (Roger), Haywood Nelson (Dwayne) and Danielle Spencer (Dee). Sadly, three cast members from the show have passed away including Fred Berry (Rerun) in 2003, Mabel King (Mama,Mabel) and Shirley Hemphill (Shirley) both in 1999.
The park plans to offer a generous appearance fee to bring the three actors to the Banks to sign autographs, pose for pictures, cheer on runners and joggers and help open the currently-under-construction gateway plaza. Also, as a joke, and obviously only if the cast attends, the three will read the entire sign to the public and not only the title. (The appearance fee would redirect funds from extending the trail and will delay its completion by two years.)
"Roger said he is definitely coming if the other two are coming. So now we're really negotiating with Dee and Dwayne," said Ralph Dwyer, a Banks representative.
"I have a new book out," said Haywood Nelson, who played Dwayne on the show. "So if they approve a large sign-and-buy book signing I will be in Philly."
Nelson, who has become an avid polo player since the show went off the air in 1979, co-authored Hay, Hay, Hay: Dieting your polo horse to the top, which was published in January 2009.
If the trio agrees to an appearance look for them in early to mid August along the mighty tidal Schuylkill.
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