Fitler Square, Philadelphia

Fitler Square in summer of 2007

Fitler Square is a city park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, bounded on the east by 23rd Street, on the west by 24th Street, on the north by Panama Street, and on the south by Pine Street. It is in the southwestern part of Philadelphia's Center City district. Fitler Square was named for late 19th century Philadelphia mayor Edwin Henry Fitler.

Neighborhood

The name "Fitler Square" is also used to describe the neighborhood surrounding the square, bounded roughly by 21st Street on the east, the Schuylkill River on the west, Locust Street on the north, and South Street on the south. To the east of this neighborhood is the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood; to the west is the neighborhood of University City, home to the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University; to the south is Southwest Center City (also known as "South of South" or the "Graduate Hospital area"). The portion of Center City surrounding Fitler Square and nearby Rittenhouse Square is sometimes referred to as "Rit-Fit" after the two parks. A second nickname, "Fittenhouse Square", was coined by local comedian Niraj Shanbhag during the 1990s.

Before the 1950s the neighborhood was a prime example of the urban blight that had overcome much of the city. The park itself was described as a "mudhole inhabited by drunks and empty bottles".^[1] In the mid-1950s, The Center City Residents' Association successfully petitioned Mayor Clark to do something about the decline of the neighborhood. Working together, they freed up mortgage money for the construction of new homes and rehabilitation of the neighborhood.

Also threatening the neighborhood was the proposed Crosstown Expressway. The threat of its construction, which would demolish much of the neighborhood, was enough to reduce property values and add to the neighborhoods blight. The Residents' Association was successful in changing the plans and following years saw drastic neighborhood improvements.

Today the neighborhood is mostly residential and composed of single-family homes, and it is within a short walk of the commercial areas of Center City. On the television show Philly, Kim Delaney's character "Kathleen" was portrayed as living in a small apartment building overlooking the park. Hojun Li, co-editor of the film The Sixth Sense, claims to have been inspired by children in Fitler Square.

Sculptures

The fountain in the center of Filter Square

A sculpture of three turtles adorns the park, as well as sculptures of a Grizzly Bear and a ram. The center of the park is dominated by a Victorian-era fountain which flows most of the year.

Education

The Philadelphia School, a private institution, is located at 2501 Lombard St. The school, which originally opened in 1972, offers preschool through 8th grade classes.^[2]

The Free Library of Philadelphia operates the Philadelphia City Institute on the first floor and lower level of an apartment complex at 1905 Locust Street.^[3]

References

1. ↑ Lowe, Jeanne R., Cities in a Race With Time: Progress and Poverty in America's Renewing Cities, p 338, Random House NY, 1967.
2. ↑
3. ↑ "Philadelphia City Institute." Free Library of Philadelphia. Retrieved on January 20, 2009.

External links

• Fitler Square Improvement Association
• Historic Photographs of Filter Square, PhillyHistory.org

Coordinates: 39°56′52″N 75°10′44″W / 39.947763°N 75.178971°W / 39.947763; -75.178971