Franklin Square (Philadelphia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Franklin Square
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The fountain at the center of Franklin Square in 2013
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Race, N. 6th and N. 7th Streets Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 7.5 acres (3.0 ha) |
| Built | 1683 |
| Architect | Thomas Holme |
| Website | http://historicphiladelphia.org/franklin-square/what-to-see/ |
| MPS | Four Public Squares of Philadelphia TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000556 |
| Added to NRHP | September 14, 1981 |
Franklin Square is one of the five original parks in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was planned by William Penn way back in 1682. You can find it in the Center City area. It sits between North 6th and 7th streets, and between Race Street and the Vine Street Expressway.
William Penn included this green space in his first city plan. He wanted it to be a place for people to relax and enjoy nature. However, the park was a bit slow to develop because it was a marshy area.
For a while, the park was not well-cared for. In the 1920s, it was almost forgotten. The area around it became a busy entertainment district.
Then, in 2003, a group called Historic Philadelphia, Inc. decided to fix up the park. They added new attractions and made it a fun place for families. This helped bring the park back to life. Today, Franklin Square is a popular spot for both locals and tourists. It looks much like William Penn first imagined it.
Historic Philadelphia, Inc., which is a non-profit group, now takes care of the park. Franklin Square was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1981. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Contents
History
How Franklin Square Began
Franklin Square was first called North East Publick Square. In 1825, it was renamed to honor Benjamin Franklin. He was a very important person in American history. He helped create the United States.
William Penn founded the square. He wanted it to be an organized space for early settlers. Penn hoped the park would encourage good behavior among the new residents. However, he didn't have full control over the squares. As more people moved in, the park was sometimes neglected.
In 1741, Governor Thomas Penn leased part of the square. It was given to the German Reformed Church.
The square was first an open common area. People used it for grazing animals. Later, it stored gunpowder during the American Revolutionary War. Soldiers also drilled there during the War of 1812.
From 1741 to 1835, a section of the square was a cemetery. It was used by the German Reformed Church. Some graves are still there today, marked by a plaque. Many Philadelphians didn't like this. They felt it went against William Penn's original plan for a nature park. Despite protests, the square continued to be used for burials.
During the 1820s, William Rush and Thomas Birch redesigned the park. They wanted it to look more natural and orderly. They made the walkways and plant areas symmetrical. This design helped keep Penn's vision for the park alive.
Changes in the 20th Century
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Franklin Square was in a popular neighborhood. But things started to change in the 1920s. The rise of cars led to the park's decline.
The Benjamin Franklin Bridge was built from 1922 to 1926. This construction destroyed many homes and shops nearby. The bridge starts right at the square's eastern edge. Cars constantly crossing the bridge made Vine Street very busy. This made it hard for people to walk to the park from two sides.
Fewer people visited Franklin Square. The businesses around it also declined. This made the park even less used by locals or tourists. During the Great Depression, the square became a place for people without homes. Even though officials tried to prevent this, many people who had lost everything gathered there. This led to the park becoming a place for encampments.
The city government neglected Franklin Square. Lights were broken, trees were messy, and the historic fountain was damaged. The lack of visitors made the square a gathering spot for people experiencing homelessness. Teachers from nearby schools even cleaned the playground themselves. The park became so neglected that many people stopped visiting it.
In 1961, author Jane Jacobs wrote about Franklin Square. She described it as a place for the city's homeless population. For decades, Franklin Square was the least used of William Penn's original five squares.
Franklin Square Today
From 2003 to 2006, Historic Philadelphia, Inc. worked to restore the park. They spent $5.5 million, mostly from a state grant. This group also manages the Betsy Ross House. They fixed the fountain and cleaned up the park. Their goal was to bring the park back to William Penn's original idea.
The square reopened on July 31, 2006. This was during Benjamin Franklin's 300th birthday year. The newly improved park has many fun, family-friendly attractions. These include a mini-golf course, a better playground, and a carousel. The park's restoration helped fulfill William Penn's dream. He wanted a green, peaceful spot in the middle of the city.
New homes, shops, and offices have been built around Franklin Square. An old hospital was even turned into apartments. This has brought many more people to the area. Now, residents and tourists can enjoy all the park has to offer.
In 2009, the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) announced plans. They wanted to renovate and reopen the PATCO Speedline's underground Franklin Square Station. This train station had been closed since 1979. In 2014, PATCO said they didn't have the resources to reopen it yet. However, as of 2020, the PATCO station is planned to reopen in 2024.
Attractions
'Bolt of Lightning' Sculpture
There's a popular story that Benjamin Franklin did his famous "kite and key" experiment in Franklin Square in 1752. This experiment was about lightning. However, it's unlikely he flew a kite near a cemetery.
This story is remembered by a large sculpture. It's called Bolt of Lightning... A Memorial to Benjamin Franklin. The artist was Isamu Noguchi. It is 101 feet tall and weighs 60 tons. The sculpture is made of stainless steel. It was put up in 1984. Noguchi chose its location himself. It faces the square from across 6th Street.
Noguchi first suggested the sculpture in 1933. But the idea was turned down then. The sculpture shows a kite, a bolt of lightning, and a key. These are all symbols from Franklin's experiment.
Franklin Square Fountain
The Franklin Square Fountain was built in 1838. Its water comes from the Schuylkill River. The fence and stone work around the fountain are from its original design. It is believed to be the oldest fountain still standing in William Penn's five historic squares. The fountain was very important in the 19th century.
In the 1950s, the park and its fountain were neglected. The water was even turned off. Historic Philadelphia restored and preserved this important fountain. It was part of their park renovation project. Now, visitors can enjoy the fountain as the park's centerpiece. The fountain recently got a makeover. It now has new water features and an LED light show. It reopened in the summer of 2019.
Living Flame Memorial
In 1976, the Living Flame memorial was built. It honors police officers and firefighters who died serving the city. The memorial was designed by Reginald E. Beauchamp. There is a special fund called the Fallen Heroes Support Fund. It helps support the families of these fallen heroes. In 2011, there was a competition to create a new design for the memorial.
Happenings
The Parx Liberty Carousel is a fun ride in the park. It is located near the Fountain. Many of the carousel's animals represent Philadelphia's history.
- Philly Mini Golf is located north of the Fountain. It is the only miniature golf course in Center City. The holes are designed like famous city landmarks. These include Elfreth's Alley, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, and the Liberty Bell.
- There are two playgrounds in the park. One is for younger children. The other is for older kids. They are in the park's southeast area.
- A food vendor called SquareBurger is located near the Fountain. You can grab a bite to eat there.
- Franklin Square often hosts the Philadelphia Chinese Festival. The park displays 29 different handcrafted lanterns. This gives visitors a chance to explore Franklin Square in a unique way.
Gallery
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Carousel eagle
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Philly Mini Golf
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Reginald E. Beauchamp's 1976 Living Flame Memorial is dedicated to city police officers and firefighters
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Franklin Square NRHP Plaque
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Franklin Square Fountain Sketch
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Thomas Holme's: Sketch of Philadelphia
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See also
- Franklin Square (PATCO station)
- List of parks in Philadelphia
