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Franklin Square is a historic park that was planned by William Penn as one of Philadelphia’s five city squares to be preserved for the community. Throughout generations, all five squares changed in upkeep, name and shape, mostly for the better. Franklin Square unfortunately, was forgotten and over time took a turn for the worse. Before its recent renovation, the park had become destitute and known more for its negative elements than a place to take your kids. The redevelopment, designed by Pennoni Associates landscape architect Diana Mancini, had many challenges, including making a traffic-heavy area pedestrian-friendly. But thanks to the careful layout and execution of its renovation the park is now as vibrant as it had been intended to be when it was originally designed over 300 years ago.
Looking at Philadelphia’s Franklin Square today, it is hard to imagine the dilapidated condition it was in only a few years ago. Located between the Vine Street Expressway and the entrance to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, the square had become an afterthought, enveloped by modern day hustle and bustle over the years. A far cry from what was imagined by William Penn when he designed it over three centuries ago, Franklin had become the black sheep of the five original squares planned in the city’s layout. It was meant to be preserved as a public-used green space, like the other four–Logan Circle, William Penn, Rittenhouse and Washington Squares. The other squares were maintained and used by picnickers regularly through the years, and while some may have changed shape, their landscapes have been kept pristine and green.
As the other parks grew in popularity, the pedestrian foot traffic slowed at Franklin Square, and consequently, so did its maintenance. Unsightly and dense patches of crabgrass, unkempt plants and shrubs, as well as overgrown and hazardous low hanging trees were now staples of the park. On top of that, an unwelcome criminal element occupied the square at night.
With the park in dire need of a change, Once Upon A Nation, a non-profit group that works to preserve and promote history in Philadelphia, leased the square from the Fairmount Park Commission, and an initial concept plan was procured from noted designer Ralph Applebaum. Preliminary plans were made by Synterra and Urban Engineers, and the Philadelphia-based firm, Pennoni Associates was hired as the prime consultant for landscape architecture and civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering. Sub-consultants included Paul Elia of Elia Architecture and Interiors and Grenald Waldron Associates for lighting design.
The overall goal was to revitalize the square and bring it back to the original glory intended by William Penn. In addition to replacing the walkways with bright and attractive brick pavers, a large classic carousel and Philadelphia themed mini golf course were brought in as attractions. The square’s playground, which had become known more as a place to find used drug paraphernalia than a place to find children playing, was completely rehabbed and divided into two age appropriate playgrounds.
A lot of hard work went into the redevelopment. Overcoming obstacles like digging up a site that included the burial ground of an old church as well as a underground New Jersey transit subway tunnel was no easy task. And if things could not be any worse, there was also the challenge of making a place surrounded by busy roadways accessible to people on foot and getting the park’s rundown central fountain up and running again, without completely replacing it.
While these additions might appear simple, there were several challenges that Pennoni encountered during the revitalization. One of the main goals of the design was to retain the park’s atmosphere created by large shade trees and open lawn areas. In order to save as many of the existing shade trees as possible, the new paths were carefully regraded to improve drainage and rebuilt in the same location as the previous paths. Much of the new electric and stormwater piping was installed under the paths to limit the disturbance of tree roots. Many new shade trees were added as well, along with ornamental landscaping around the entrances. Another challenge Pennoni faced in rehabbing the park was protecting the First German Reformed Church’s burial ground, whose site is in the square. An on-call archeologist was retained to identify historic artifacts if unearthed. And if watching out for graves was not enough, there was also the issue of an underground New Jersey Transit subway tunnel that traverses the park. By designing improvements, stormwater management, new utilities serving the park’s attractions, and an ADA compliant comfort station around the known and expected grave sites, Pennoni was able to limit conflicts.
What required the most effort in revitalizing the square was the park’s central attraction, the marble fountain. Having not run since the 1970s when the park was temporarily rehabbed for the centennial celebrations, there was a lot that needed to be done. As the park’s focal point, the plan was to restore, not replace, the fountain, which had become overrun with plants and weeds. All of the mechanical systems, filters and piping had to be replaced while the original marble fountain basin and perimeter iron work fencing were cleaned and renewed. In addition, with the assistance of Jon Favreau of Aquarius Waterworks, the fountains original spray formation was able to be restored to its original grandeur.
While replacing all the original mechanical systems supplying the fountain was difficult, the real design challenge came in dealing with the park’s storm water management system. As renovations were going on, the requirements for the system changed, so Pennoni had to come up with a “Plan B.” Excavation in the square was limited by existing trees and archaeologically sensitive areas, so putting in a second new stormwater system was not a simple or inexpensive option. The Fairmount Park Commission knew of a large unused sewer pipe located beneath the square. Pennoni re-analyzed the runoff conditions and modeled an outlet structure to provide new code required detention. Drainage patterns had to be adjusted and the design coordinated with city agencies, all in an expedited manner during construction.
From the current look of the park, it is hard to imagine that it was ever a desolate and abandoned blot on the landscape. New entrance ways and signage were constructed and styled to fit with the rest of the park. “Gateways” were put in at 7th Street, as well as 6th Street to help draw in foot traffic from the nearby National Constitution Center. Picnic tables and park benches for story tellers were set up to provide for more passive recreation, in addition to the other attractions. Along with the other many renovations most notably the two age appropriate playgrounds, Franklin Square is now on par, if not better then its four sibling parks.
Several steps have been taken to ensure that the park does not fall into disrepair again. To guarantee safety, security guards will be in service during the parks operational hours, as well as enhanced lighting to brighten the twilight hours. In addition to any money brought in to the square by concessions and attractions, there is also a “Franklin for the Fountain” brick campaign in which people donate a “Benjamin” ($100) and get their name engraved on a brick in the square.
Additional landscaping and an improvement to the already refurbished Police and Firemen’s Monument have been talked about for the future. In its first five months alone, the park had 300,000 visitors. Pennoni Associates and its team are proud to be a part of turning a city eyesore into a must-see city landmark.
Pennoni Associates Inc., established in 1966, is a multi-disciplined consulting engineering firm which provides services and solutions to meet the needs of clients. Pennoni employs 800 professional, technical, and administrative personnel in 22 offices throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, New England, Tennessee, Maryland, and New York. Services are provided to local, state, and federal governments, private, commercial, industrial, and construction clients as well as to other professional firms.
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennoni is ranked as a Best Place to Work in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey and offers services in Site Design and Landscape Architecture, Transportation Engineering, Civil/Municipal Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Inspection and Testing, Land Surveying, MEP Engineering, Geotechnical and Structural Engineering. Pennoni Associates is proud to be an ENR Top 500 Firm, ranking #133 for 2007 as well as ranking #91 on the Top 100 Pure Design Firms list.
Diana Mancini is a Senior Landscape Architect whose 18 years of professional experience covers all aspects of landscape architecture and site planning, from conceptual design through project development, construction documentation and observation. Her project experience includes recreation facilities, large and small urban parks, streetscape revitalization projects, trail projects, and various landscape design projects. She is a graduate of Michigan State University, and a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Some of her landscape projects include work on the Microsoft School of the Future in Philadelphia, Christina School District landscaping in Delaware, and WRAT Radio landscaping in New Jersey.
Sources: www.ushistory.org, boomertowne.com
William Penn envisioned Philadelphia as a “Green Countrie Towne.” Prominent in his design for the “towne” was a central square, with four other squares equidistant from the center. The five public squares, open green spaces to be shared by all, would be havens of respite in a busy world. Initially given humble directional appellations, northeast square, centre square and so on, today the squares bear the names of inspirational individuals in the city’s history.
300 years after Penn completed his city plan, the five squares are lush urban landmarks, places of retreat, refuge and even inspiration. The fourth is the hub to which all roads in the city lead to City Hall. Franklin Square, closest to the historic district, is a lovely park, with miniature golf, a playground, its old fountain, and a carousel.
Franklin Square, does not have the fame of the other four Philidelphia squares, but has a rich history nontheless. In 1741, a portion of the square, which was then known as Northeast Square, was released to the German Reform Church for use as a burial ground. Before 1815, it also served as an open common, providing pasturage and a site for horse and cattle markets. During the Revolution the square held a powder house, and in the War of 1812 it served as a drilling ground for troops. In 1825, ten years after the city began to level and plant the ground, the square became “Franklin Square” in honor of Benjamin Franklin.
The park was at the heart of a major court case In 1935, when the state Supreme Court declared a case involving the release of a portion of the square to the German Reform Church invalid, leading to many of the congregation’s graves to be moved. However, many still remain to this day along with the Living Flame Memorial, which honors Philadelphia police officers and firefighters who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. Today it is surrounded on two sides by well-traveled roads and expressways and located by the base of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
Northwest Square is today round in shape and has been renamed Logan Circle. After serving briefly as a pasture, burial ground, and scene of public executions, the “square” was renamed in honor of Penn’s learned secretary, James Logan.
Southwest Square is today Tony Rittenhouse Square. Surrounded by hotels, restaurants, and shops, this square, named for colonial scientist David Rittenhouse, contains many fountains and is a popular destination for families.
Art exhibitions and flower shows are among some of the events held here throughout the year. Rittenhouse once led a group of astronomers charting the transit of Venus from a platform built behind Independence Hall.
Washington Square, once known as Southeast Square, was named in Presdient George Washington’s honor. Since Philadelphia was the nation’s first capitol, Washington spent many years in the city.
Centre Square is today named for the founder of Philadelphia, William Penn. In the early 19th century it was a favorite recreational spot, located on then, the outskirts of town. For a time home to a water works, today the square is the home to City Hall.
Francisco Uviña, University of New Mexico
Hardscape Oasis in Litchfield Park
Ash Nochian, Ph.D. Landscape Architect
November 12th, 2025
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