“Urban Oasis” is a segment devoted to such places found here in the city of Philadelphia, though I will likely be doing articles on larger parks as well (bah, I can change the title later, right?). I will open this segment with my favorite place in the city, Rittenhouse Square.
Much more lively in just about any other season, Rittenhouse still stands out as a popular gathering spot at all times in Philadelphia. Being in the heart of the city, completely surrounded by businesses and high-rises, it serves as an unofficial culture center, choice lunch spot and convenient short cut from my work place to home. Frequented by bike messengers, chess competitors, dog people, panhandlers, construction workers, Hacky Sackers, musicians, five-o, yuppies, a few crazies, artists and others besides, the square provides quite an eclectic gathering. On the best days, you’ll see all of these people out at once, and some others that are more interesting still. You’ll have the occasional local event here or there throughout the year, but the square is at its best when people just amble in and out seeing what might be what.
The square has a fair share of monuments and statues, tree shade and plant growth. A combined effort by the Fairmount Park Commission, which is responsible for the square’s upkeep, and the Friends of Rittenhouse Square, a non-profit dedicated to gathering funding to keep the status quo, has helped maintained a significant measure of preservation to the square that is largely absent from many of the other small squares and parks to be found throughout most of Philadelphia. Being a spot of prestige and historical significance amongst Philadelphia parks, not to mention its close proximity to the most expensive real estate in the city, is a major guiding force in these efforts.
Not to say that Rittenhouse Square doesn’t have its own share of graffiti, vandalism, crime and damages. Such acts will certainly happen in any part of town. However, a more prominent police and people presence, coupled with the aforementioned efforts of Fairmount and Friends, lessen these occurrences to a minimal degree. Don’t be entirely surprised to find this message washed out before the year is out, though likely replaced with yet another friendly note (I claim no responsibility for this, by the way).
Speaking from a personal perspective, it’s interesting to catch some photos of the square like this. At this time of year, on a lazy Sunday, the park is unusually devoid of flocks of people. The scene above, for example, might have anywhere between twenty to maybe fifty people taking up space when it isn’t winter. But even at its most crowded, the park is accommodating (the southeast corner, which gets the least sunlight, is often close to bare). Though it’s great to get these kind of shots right now, one cannot help but yearn for spring, where the cold and frost is left behind again and the flowers and fun to return.
For more information on Rittenhouse Square, you can access any of the links provided in this posting (go here as well for the Rittenhouse Row site). You can get a deeper sense for the history and events in the park with these resources. I’ve yet to see the documentary that came out a couple of years ago so I’m afraid I have no commentary to give on that. I plan on returning to this subject later this year, but for now that’s that. Please feel free to leave any commentary on the quality of this posting.
