Impressions of Dilworth Park (Philadelphia, York: city hall, construction, homeless)

[stuckinsj]

Center City District Parks – Dilworth Park

What does everyone think about the almost complete new Dilworth Park (formerly Dilworth Plaza) on the west side of City Hall.

I really like it. Its very attractive, seems to be full of great activities, and new subway concourses.

[MikeNigh]

Need to see what kind of events they have there. Simply as a space it's not something I'd cross the road for.

[Becca8377]

My friends and I went there for lunch yesterday. The biggest disappointment = there was NO grass!! All those fancy graphics that showed large grassy areas... well apparently those are still under construction. We brought blankets and wanted to sit in the grass, but arrived to only find stone and concrete. It was a total cluster for the ceremonies, so I can't really give an accurate impression of the place. There was no shade except for a few umbrellas, otherwise you had to be up against City Hall to not have the sun blaring on you. I'll check it again once it's not as crazy and perhaps if there's actually the greenery they've been showing.

[Clark Park]

I was there today at noon time.

I give it mixed reviews. It is certainly better than before when it was full of homeless people and all others avoided it. The kids seemed to like playing in the fountains.

My disappointment is that the place does not convey or pay architectural homage to our opulent City Hall. New York City's Bryant Park restoration was a much better makeover as it enhanced the gorgeous Beaux Arts main Public Library on 42nd Street. The present Dilworth is not inspired or noteworthy.

[rotodome]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

I was there today at noon time.

I give it mixed reviews. It is certainly better than before when it was full of homeless people and all others avoided it. The kids seemed to like playing in the fountains.

My disappointment is that the place does not convey or pay architectural homage to our opulent City Hall. New York City's Bryant Park restoration was a much better makeover as it enhanced the gorgeous Beaux Arts main Public Library on 42nd Street. The present Dilworth is not inspired or noteworthy.

As a point of interest:
Both the Bryant Park restoration, and Dilworth Plaza (in collaboration with the Phila Architecture firm Kieran Timberlake) were designed by Philadelphia's own Laurie Olin - a very famous Landscape Architect.

[Lenses & Lights.]

Originally Posted by stuckinsj

Center City District Parks – Dilworth Park

What does everyone think about the almost complete new Dilworth Park (formerly Dilworth Plaza) on the west side of City Hall.

I really like it. Its very attractive, seems to be full of great activities, and new subway concourses.

New subway concourses? That's nice but SEPTA really needs to demolish and restore that entire 15th/JFK/Walnut-Locust/13th/16th St underground area. It's the absolute worse I've ever seen for a big city system. An utter embarrassment.

[pman]

Originally Posted by BillyJacc

New subway concourses? That's nice but SEPTA really needs to demolish and restore that entire 15th/JFK/Walnut-Locust/13th/16th St underground area. It's the absolute worse I've ever seen for a big city system. An utter embarrassment.

instead, SEPTA is going to fix it up. previously the city ran it...

[Lenses & Lights.]

Originally Posted by pman

instead, SEPTA is going to fix it up. previously the city ran it...

That will be a good thing. Hope they are creative in the process. Is there a start date? Also there are many other very rundown stations that are filthy , old, dilapidated, dim, and leaking lots of water at all times. Do they have plans for total renovation of them all?

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

I was there today at noon time.

I give it mixed reviews. It is certainly better than before when it was full of homeless people and all others avoided it. The kids seemed to like playing in the fountains.

My disappointment is that the place does not convey or pay architectural homage to our opulent City Hall. New York City's Bryant Park restoration was a much better makeover as it enhanced the gorgeous Beaux Arts main Public Library on 42nd Street. The present Dilworth is not inspired or noteworthy.

The best part for me are the re-worked entrances for the subway, EL and trolleys.

I won't have a final opinion about it until the southern end is finished and that skating rink is working.

Showing my age now. I remember when the previous Dilworth Plaza was being built back in late 60s/early 70s. There was a lot of enthusiasm when it was new. It worked for a while but by the 80s it was. obvious it was a failure as homeless people sort of took over the space. The general public just avoided it all and it died.

For folks who thought there would be more grass. Well, the renderings I saw never indicated that.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by BillyJacc

That will be a good thing. Hope they are creative in the process. Is there a start date? Also there are many other very rundown stations that are filthy , old, dilapidated, dim, and leaking lots of water at all times. Do they have plans for total renovation of them all?

Even the recent infusion of money they FINALLY got for capital projects will not fix all of these problems.

The first project, though, will likely be the long delayed re-build of the City Hall BSL station.

No, I have seen no start date for any new projects though.