Philadelphia's History of Neglect for Public Parks
When William Penn laid out the street grid for the city, he gave Philadelphia the gift of five public squares. Yet it seems from the city’s earliest days that the parks have been underfunded and underappreciated. Having bequeathed those five public squares to the city as part of the plan, Penn then established the great Philadelphia tradition of not funding them.
Because no money was allotted for turning the wild blocks into landscaped parks, Philadelphians quickly developed the habit of using their public spaces to dump trash. They became convenient places to hang criminals and bury the poor. It wasn’t until 1820 that the city government agreed to take responsibility for their upkeep.
Rittenhouse Square circa 1915
Although it is now one of the most fashionable public spaces in Philadelphia, Rittenhouse Square was not always a popular gathering place for the city’s residents. In the eighteenth century the park provided pasturage for local livestock and by the late 1700s brickyards surrounded the square. Not until the 1880s, when the city’s elite began to move into the area, did the park begin to take on its modern elegance. The park’s current beauty is not necessarily a product of city government’s commitment to public gathering places. Since the early nineteenth century local residents have played an important role in the park’s beautification and maintenance
Washington Square circa 1910
During the 18th century, the Southeast Square, or Washington Square as it is known today, was used to graze animals and for burials by city’s African American community and as a potter’s field, much like the park of the same name in New York’s Greenwich Village. During the Revolutionary War, the square was used as a burial ground for citizens and troops from the Colonial army. After the Revolution, victims of the city’s yellow fever epidemics were interred here, and the square was used for cattle markets and camp meetings. Improvement efforts began in 1815, as the neighborhoods around the square were developed and became fashionable. In 1825, the park was named Washington Square in tribute to George Washington and a monument to Washington was proposed. This monument was never built but served as the seed for the eventual tribute to soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
Instead of valuing these green spaces as places for leisurely enjoyment, Philadelphia has too often treated its parks as workhorses that can be harnessed to practical municipal goals. Philadelphia has the unfortunate distinction of spending less on its park system than any big city in America. Fairmount Park’s budget to preserve it’s 9,200 beautiful acres has not increased in more than two decades! If Philadelphia wants to compete with other up and coming cities to keep its residents satisfied, it means providing high-quality parks and amenities. After three centuries of describing itself as a green country town, it’s time for Philadelphia to live up to its brand.
Philadelphia Inquirer phillyhistory.org
