Animating a Key Public Space
Publication Date: 8/9/2012
With support from the William Penn Foundation, 30th
Street Station is sporting a great new amenity these days, and it’s not just locals
who are taking notice.
“The Porch” has turned into one of Philadelphia’s most
appealing new public spaces. Between two historic buildings and within a short
walk of over 16,000 jobs, this small urban oasis has inviting features
including trees and attractive landscaping, tables and chairs, a weekly
farmers’ market, yoga classes, and a variety of special events and programs.
The Atlantic Monthly’s blog “Atlantic
Cities” has a great piece today about The Porch (also cross-published on
the National Resource Defense Council Blog).
Earlier this spring, Dwell
Magazine featured The Porch as one of its “Now 99 – the Ideas, People,
Products and Plans defining today’s design landscape”
The Foundation is a proponent of great public spaces like The Porch, and earlier this summer,
made a $500,000 grant to the University City District - the organization that manages The Porch - for improvements and new
cultural programming to further animate the space.