Love Park
| Love Park | |
|---|---|
| Type | Urban plaza |
| Location | Center City, Philadelphia |
| Coordinates | 39.9543,-75.1657 |
| Area | 0.9 acres |
| Established | 1965 (plaza); 1976 (sculpture) |
| Operated by | Philadelphia Parks & Recreation |
| Features | LOVE sculpture, fountain, views of City Hall |
| Transit | Multiple SEPTA routes; near Suburban Station |
| Website | Official Site |
Love Park (officially John F. Kennedy Plaza) sits at the northwest corner of City Hall in Center City Philadelphia. It's famous for Robert Indiana's iconic LOVE sculpture, which dominates the urban plaza and has become inseparable from the city's identity. The park offers sweeping views down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway toward the Philadelphia Museum of Art and functions as one of Center City's most important gathering spaces.[1]
In 2018, the plaza underwent a complete redesign. It's now a modern public space, but it's never lost its role as home to one of Philadelphia's most photographed landmarks.
History
JFK Plaza
Architects Edmund Bacon and Vincent Kling designed this plaza during the 1960s redevelopment of Center City. When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, the city decided to name it after him.
LOVE Sculpture
Robert Indiana created the LOVE sculpture in 1970, though it didn't arrive here until 1976, when it debuted for the nation's Bicentennial celebration. Originally meant to be temporary. But the public wouldn't let it leave.
- Started as a temporary installation
- Visitors demanded it stay
- Became Philadelphia's symbol overnight
- Now the city's most photographed object
Skateboarding History
During the 1990s and 2000s, Love Park became a skateboarding mecca. Skaters from around the world came here to hit what many considered the planet's best street skating spot. The park appeared constantly in skate videos and magazines, building its reputation with each new video release. Eventually the city banned skating there, a decision that remains controversial among the skateboarding community even now. Still, the park holds an important place in skateboarding's cultural history.
2018 Redesign
Between 2016 and 2018, the plaza got a complete overhaul:
- New fountain with interactive elements
- Expanded seating areas
- Improved accessibility throughout
- Added a café pavilion
- The LOVE sculpture was temporarily moved, then restored after renovation
Features
LOVE Sculpture
Robert Indiana designed this work in 1970, and it's been installed here since 1976. The sculpture stands 12 feet tall and is built from cor-ten steel painted red. That tilted "O" is what makes it instantly recognizable.
Fountain
The fountain does more than look good. It's got interactive water features that keep things cool in summer, and at night it's beautifully lit. People use it as a gathering space year-round.
Views
Looking northwest from the plaza, you see the Benjamin Franklin Parkway stretching toward the Art Museum. Turn southeast and you're looking into City Hall's courtyard. The urban canyon perspective from here is genuinely striking.
Café
There's a café pavilion now. It serves coffee and light food, has indoor seating, and provides a weather shelter when you need it. Restrooms are available too.
Visiting
Hours
The plaza itself is open 24 hours. The café runs on its own schedule, so you'll want to check current hours before you go.
Getting There
Location: 15th Street and JFK Boulevard
By Public Transit: Suburban Station connects directly underground, making it the easiest option. SEPTA buses run along both JFK Boulevard and Market Street. You can also walk from City Hall in just a couple of minutes.
By Car: Parking garages exist nearby. Street parking? Forget it. There's barely any, and transit is faster anyway.
Tips
Get there early for the best LOVE sculpture photos. Crowds thin out before mid-morning, and the light's usually better anyway. The parkway view is worth seeing at any time of day. If you're ambitious, walk from here to the Art Museum along the parkway itself. Just know the plaza gets packed during midday hours.
Nearby
- City Hall — Right next door
- Benjamin Franklin Parkway — Starts right here
- Philadelphia Museum of Art — About a mile along the parkway
- Dilworth Park — City Hall's western plaza
- Reading Terminal Market — Just two blocks east
Cultural Significance
Love Park matters to Philadelphia in several ways. That LOVE sculpture has become inseparable from the city itself. It's what people think of when they think of Philadelphia. The plaza also represents mid-century urban renewal thinking and the design philosophy behind public spaces. Skateboarding culture owes it a serious debt too, as the park was central to the sport's development and visibility in the 1990s and 2000s. And it's a testament to how public art can transcend its original context and define a place entirely.