Philly Parks and Spaces

One of the best things about Philadelphia's parks and green spaces is the multitude of things to do in them. And each one is a little bit different. In Fairmount Park, you can run, walk, bike and more. Lots of people love to do that, including on the Schuylkill River Trail. Logan Square (more accurately, Logan Circle) has a fountain and during those hot summer days can be filled with kids who are just trying to cool down. Penn Park, in University City, has athletic fields that can be used. And the city squares like Rittenhouse and Washington are filled with benches and wide open stretches of grass for people to play, relax, sleep, read and sit. The versatility of the parks and green spaces in Philadelphia knows no bounds.

And I'm not just talking about our recent Eagles victory over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Although, you could say that green is our color right now. No, Philadelphia's parks and green spaces, especially during this time of year, are filled with green. The leaves on the trees are blooming, the grass is lush and the parks provide an inviting escape from the grey of the city. Walking down Ben Franklin Parkway, you are under a tunnel of trees. People evidently love that route, as I've seen many bikers and runners heading towards the Art Museum and Fairmount Park. I see people sitting on the benches at Rittenhouse, or swimming in the fountain in Logan Circle.

There's a lot of history behind some of Philadelphia's most famous green spaces: the squares. When William Penn was first laying out the city, he decided to put five squares on the map, one at each cardinal direction corner, and one in the middle, according to Philadelphia Magazine . But after Penn laid out these squares, they were given names to honor notable people at the time. Thus, Franklin Square, Washington Square, Logan Square, Rittenhouse Square, and Center Square (now where City Hall is located) were founded. Benjamin Franklin was a famous Philadelphian, and there is a statue of Washington in his Square, near Independence Hall. Rittenhouse was an astronomer, and Logan was a colonial mayor. When we sit in these parks, history is all around us.

I went to Rittenhouse Square to take in the atmosphere of this particular green space. It is nestled just below the financial district in Center City, surrounded by expensive, decadent restaurants like Parc, and filled with people from all walks of life. In Rittenhouse Square, businessmen and women mingle with homeless, young people play catch or lay on the grass, and older folks sit on the benches and relax. Though it is surrounded by some of the most expensive real estate, it truly feels like a meeting ground for everyone. Lots of people like to take their lunch break here, due to the location of offices nearby. It is one of Philadelphia's busiest green spaces.

Philadelphia, like many other big cities, is home to many parks and green spaces. When the city was expanding, builders and planners naturally thought to include spaces that people could relax, play, and socialize in. Parks and other green spaces offer a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. Sitting in Rittenhouse Square, you feel a moment of solace from busy downtown Center City. When I go to a park, it is an opportunity to take a break from the world. You can people watch, you can read a book or just stare into space and think about things. Philadelphia loves its parks, and this series will be an exploration of them.