In The End

Many of the parks are very similar to what Jane Jacobs originally observed. But some of the differences are significant. The success of the four parks depends on many factors, making their lives very volatile. The surrounding buildings, residences, streets, and people all contribute to how much the park is utilized and what it adds to the area. Jane Jacobs' four conditions of designing cities with mixed primary uses, small blocks, aged buildings, and dense concentration of people would greatly increase the popularity and enjoyment of the parks in Philadelphia.

Logan Square or Circle?

Logan Square, as Jacobs put it, "has been whittled to a small traffic island" (93). Although this is true, it is a landmark along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The beautiful fountain and view of the Art Museum make it a wonderful location for relaxation. 

It is a hassle to get to, but it is located in a distinctly cultural district. Surrounding this circle you can find places like The Franklin Institute, Moore College of Art, The Free Library of Philadelphia, as well as other museums and attractions. One of the downsides to this park is what Jacobs refers to as the "duplication of success." The surroundings are mostly the same and display a sense of uniformity. Another downside is that the park is frequented by homeless looking for a bench to sleep on, creating a negative influence on the area.

The Great Rittenhouse Square

Rittenhouse Square is one of the prominent parks within Philadelphia. Its location makes it a popular attraction to dog walkers, runners, bikers, and people just looking for a nice walk. Jacobs was spot on with her assessment of it being "the center of a fashionable neighborhood" (92).

Within the park, there are many sculptures and pieces of artwork. It adds more value to the park as a whole. This is such a great park year round, not only because of the mixed use surroundings, but also because of the people in the area. They contribute to the overall success of the square.

The Fate of Washington Square

Washington Square is just outside Society Hill. Its a good size park with many benches, greenery, and a memorial for the unknown soldiers who died in Washington's Army during the Revolutionary War.

Jacob's remarked that this park "became Philadelphia's pervert park" (92) and that eventually it was redesigned. Currently, the park gets a good amount of use. As Jacobs said, many people come out on there lunch breaks when its nice out. However, it seems that the surroundings have begun to add value to the area. Not only are there just banks and insurance companies like there were 50 years ago. Now there are small shops, restaurants, apartments, that make people come to the area regularly.

What Has Become of Franklin Square?

Franklin Square is just across from the ramp to the Ben Franklin Bridge into New Jersey. It's a quaint little park, with a beautiful fountain, and a carousel, mini golf course, and playground for children. Jane Jacob's referred to Franklin Square as "the city's Skid Row Park" (92). I agree partly, however it is quite different then the way she explained it. The surroundings have all changed, but just to the north of the park there's an underpass frequented by the homeless.

Jacobs hit the nail on the head saying that parks were volatile. During the summer, this park is a bustling recreation area for families, very different than the empty park seen in the pictures. The reason for this is partly because of the surroundings. There is not enough mixed use space or residences to provide a steady flow of park goers.

In The Beginning

When William Penn laid out the city of Philadelphia, he wanted there to be five squares, one of which is now occupied by City Hall. The other four are described in Jane Jacob's book The Death and Life of Great  American Cities. In her book, she aims to look at the different fates of the four squares in 1961, whereas I will compare and contrast my own observations from 2012. Some are vastly different then they were 50 years ago, and some are relatively the same. By using photographs, I will show how they are similar or unlike  Jacobs' descriptions.