Thomas Paine Plaza facts for kids

Thomas Paine Plaza is a special open space park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's named after Thomas Paine, a very important writer and thinker during the American Revolution. This park is located right across from Dilworth Park and City Hall, which is the main building for the city's government.

The park was designed by Sam Durant and Frank Rizzo. It features a unique design with a maze-like pattern made from chain-link fences. In October 2015, the park was updated and officially reopened by Mayor Michael Nutter.

A Place for History and Voices

Thomas Paine Plaza has been a spot where people gather to share their thoughts and make history. It even has enlarged pieces from the famous board game, Monopoly!

Important Gatherings

In July 2016, a big political event called the 2016 Democratic National Convention happened in Philadelphia. During this time, Thomas Paine Plaza became a popular place for people to gather and express their opinions about politics. Many people who supported Bernie Sanders came to the park to discuss their concerns about the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton. It was a place where different viewpoints were shared openly.

The park was also the home base for a group called Occupy Philadelphia in 2011. This group set up a camp in the plaza to protest about economic fairness and other issues. They wanted to bring attention to their ideas about how society and the economy should work.

Occupy Philly, 2011, in Thomas Paine Plaza