Officially known as John F. Kennedy Plaza, Love Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania derives its name from its reproduction of the famous Love sculpture that overlooks the plaza. The park brings together both residents and tourists with green areas, walking paths and seating to demonstrate what it can mean to transform a nondescript urban area into something that has a massive economic and cultural impact on an entire community.
Activities and Experiences at Love Park
Love Park is officially known as the John F. Kennedy Plaza as it was dedicated to the late United States President John F. Kennedy in 1967. A plaque describes the dedication, although the park itself was built in 1965.
A “Love” sculpture, designed by Robert Indiana, was first placed in the plaza in 1976 as part of the United States’ Bicentennial celebration. It was removed in 1978, which caused an uproar from the surrounding community. F. Eugene Dixon, a local businessman who was chairman of the Philadelphia Art Commission at the time, purchased the work and donated it to the city. It was soon reinstalled in the Plaza, further establishing the status of the area as Love Park.
The Fairmount Park Welcome Center has been transformed into a new restaurant called Loveluck, which signifies the powerful economic impact Love Park opened up. Fountains and the “I (Heart) Philly” sculpture are just a few of the attractions that reside in Love Park, with other notable landmarks like the Rocky Statue and Liberty Bell are within walking distance to help attract both residents and visitors. The park also has an active social media presence that encourages people to interact with the monument in multiple ways.
The numerous paved areas in Love Park play host to festivals and events throughout the year, while city tours, souvenirs and general information are all readily available. Additionally, dancing, concerts, table games, food trucks, and “Wedding Wednesdays,” when marriage ceremonies will be performed al fresco, are set to become mainstays of the park.
These offerings are in addition to the incredible views of the unique architecture of the city. In offering so many different activities and experiences for both residents and tourists, Love Park showcases what it means for an attraction to both transform an area and create a legacy that is directly representative of the surrounding community.
A Gift That Everyone Can Receive Every Day
Though not as large or all-encompassing as some urban parks, Love Park has been described as being able to provide an iconic picture at any time of year, but its’ reputation is about more than just pictures. The park embodies the spirit of Philadelphia in multiple ways, not just because it is helping the entire area be reinvented and change for the better, but also because it has become a gift that residents look forward to receiving each day as well as one that attracts visitors by the thousands to the benefit of everyone.
