Fitler Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fitler Square
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Fitler Square in Summer 2007
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| Country |  United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia |
| City | Philadelphia |
| Area code(s) | 215, 267, and 445 |
Fitler Square is a lovely public park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's about half an acre in size. The name "Fitler Square" also refers to the neighborhood that surrounds the park.
The park is located between 23rd and 24th Streets. Panama Street is to its north, and Pine Street is to its south. The neighborhood itself is in the western part of Center City. It's west of Rittenhouse Square and east of the Schuylkill River.
Fitler Square was named after Edwin Henry Fitler. He was a mayor of Philadelphia in the late 1800s and passed away in 1896. The City of Philadelphia owns the park. However, a group called the Fitler Square Improvement Association helps take care of it. They work together with the city's Department of Parks and Recreation.
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Exploring the Fitler Square Neighborhood
The Fitler Square neighborhood covers a larger area than just the park. It's generally bounded by 21st Street to the east and the Schuylkill River to the west. Locust Street is to the north, and South Street is to the south.
To the east of this area is the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. To the west, you'll find University City. This area is home to big universities like the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. South of Fitler Square is an area sometimes called "South of South." People sometimes call the area around Fitler Square and Rittenhouse Square "Rit-Fit."
Before the 1950s, the Fitler Square neighborhood faced some challenges. The park itself was not well-maintained. However, in the mid-1950s, local residents decided to make a change. The Center City Residents' Association asked Mayor Clark for help. They worked together to get money to build new homes and improve the area.
There was also a plan to build a highway called the Crosstown Expressway. This highway would have torn down many homes in the neighborhood. This plan made property values go down. But the Residents' Association successfully stopped the highway project. Thanks to their efforts and the Fitler Square Improvement Association, the neighborhood greatly improved over the years.
Today, the Fitler Square neighborhood is mostly residential. This means it has many single-family homes. It's also just a short walk from the shops and businesses of Center City.
Discovering Sculptures in the Park
Fitler Square park is home to several interesting sculptures. You can find three turtle sculptures made by a Philadelphia artist named Eric Berg. There are also sculptures of a Grizzly Bear and a Ram.
In the center of the park, there's a beautiful Victorian-era fountain. It flows for most of the year. For a long time, this fountain, like many others in Philadelphia, used fresh water directly from the city's water pipes. This water would then go straight into the sewer.
However, in 2010, the Fitler Square Improvement Association started a big project. They raised about $40,000 from neighborhood donations and a grant. They changed the fountain so that it now recirculates its water using a special pumping system. This change saves a huge amount of water every year!
Learning Institutions Nearby
The Fitler Square neighborhood has some great places for learning. The Philadelphia School is a private school located at 2501 Lombard Street. It opened in 1972 and offers classes for students from preschool up to 8th grade.
The Free Library of Philadelphia also has a branch nearby. It's called the Philadelphia City Institute. You can find it on the first floor and lower level of an apartment building at 1905 Locust Street.
Notable People Connected to Fitler Square
- Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus: They were the subjects of a film called 50 Children: The Rescue Mission of Mr. and Mrs. Kraus which tells an amazing story.
Fitler Square in Pop Culture
- In the TV show Philly, the character "Kathleen," played by Kim Delaney, was shown living in an apartment overlooking the park.
- Hojun Li, who helped edit the famous movie The Sixth Sense, has said he was inspired by children playing in Fitler Square.
