McPherson Square
| McPherson Square | |
|---|---|
| Type | Neighborhood square |
| Location | Kensington, Philadelphia |
| Coordinates | 40.0110,-75.1320 |
| Area | 3 acres |
| Established | 1849 |
| Operated by | Philadelphia Parks & Recreation |
| Features | Library, recreation center, playground, community space |
| Hours | Dawn to dusk |
| Transit | SEPTA bus routes; near McPherson Square Library |
| Website | Official Site |
McPherson Square sits in Kensington, anchoring the community around the historic McPherson Square Library branch. It's a 3-acre neighborhood square. Named for General James B. McPherson, a Civil War hero, the square has been a gathering place since 1849 and remains a vital neighborhood resource despite the serious challenges facing Kensington.[1]
Together with the library, it forms Kensington's civic heart. The space provides essential services and green area to one of Philadelphia's historic working-class neighborhoods.
History
Founding
In 1849, McPherson Square was established as part of Kensington's grid development during the neighborhood's rapid industrialization phase. The square was meant to serve the growing industrial community, offering open space where factory workers and their families could gather. It took its name from Major General James Birdseye McPherson, a Union Army general who commanded the Army of the Tennessee during the Civil War. McPherson died at the Battle of Atlanta in 1864. He was the highest-ranking Union officer killed in action during the entire war, widely respected for his military leadership and devotion to the Union cause.
Industrial Era
For most of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the square was vital green space for Kensington's dense working-class population. Textile mills, carpet factories, and manufacturing plants dominated the neighborhood. McPherson Square gave factory workers a rare place to spend time outdoors. Community meetings happened there. Recreation happened there. Neighborhood events happened there. During Kensington's industrial peak, it was the heart of local social life.
McPherson Square Library (1906)
A Carnegie Library branch opened in 1906, designed by the Philadelphia architectural firm Whitfield & King in Classical Revival style. Andrew Carnegie's philanthropic work funded these libraries across America. Carnegie himself donated money for numerous library branches throughout Philadelphia. The McPherson Square Library's Classical Revival design showed the characteristic symmetry, columns, and formal proportions typical of that era's library architecture. The building has served the Kensington community continuously since opening, making it one of the Free Library of Philadelphia's longest-operating branches.
Modern Challenges
Over recent decades, the area around McPherson Square has faced serious challenges. Industrial decline hit hard. Economic hardship followed. Manufacturing jobs disappeared in the latter half of the 20th century, devastating Kensington's economy and leading to widespread poverty and disinvestment. The opioid crisis has impacted the neighborhood severely, making it one of Philadelphia's most visible epicenters of addiction and homelessness. Still, community resilience has remained strong. The library and square continue serving as focal points for neighborhood organizing, youth programs, and social services.
Features
McPherson Square Library
The McPherson Square Library operates as a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia in the original Carnegie-era building from 1906. The Classical Revival structure displays architectural elements typical of Carnegie libraries: symmetrical design and formal entrance features. Despite neighborhood challenges, the library remains one of Philadelphia's most active branches. It provides books and media lending, children's programming, teen programs, adult education classes, computer and internet access, and community meeting space. The library has adapted to serve contemporary community needs, offering programs focused on literacy, job skills, and youth development.
Recreation Facilities
The square offers a playground for children of various ages, basketball courts that gather neighborhood youth, open lawn areas for passive recreation and community events, and seating areas throughout the park. In a densely populated urban neighborhood with limited green space, these facilities provide important recreational outlets.
Community Space
This functions as a center for neighborhood gatherings and community organizing. Events and programs run throughout the year. It serves as a historic gathering point for Kensington residents and provides space for community-led initiatives addressing neighborhood issues.
Using the Square
Library Services
The McPherson Square Library offers comprehensive services: books and media lending across all age groups, children's programming featuring storytimes and educational activities, teen programs focused on literacy and skill development, adult education including computer classes and job readiness training, free computer and internet access for those without home connectivity, and community meeting space for neighborhood organizations. Programming adapts to serve the specific needs of the Kensington community, including resources for families facing economic hardship.
Recreation
Visitors can use the playground facilities designed for children, play basketball on the outdoor courts, engage in open play on the lawn areas, or enjoy passive recreation on benches and seating throughout the square.
Visiting
Hours
The park opens at dawn and closes at dusk daily. Library hours vary. Check the Free Library of Philadelphia's website or call the McPherson Square branch directly.
Getting There
McPherson Square is located at E Street and Indiana Avenue in Kensington. SEPTA Bus routes 3, 39, and 60 serve the area, with connections from the Market-Frankford Line's Allegheny or Huntingdon stations. Street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood for those traveling by car.
Tips
The library's programs and resources are excellent and worth a visit. You should know that the neighborhood faces ongoing social challenges including visible homelessness and addiction issues. Community events and outreach programs remain active. Support local businesses and community initiatives working to address neighborhood needs.
Community Context
Kensington
McPherson Square sits in historic Kensington, a neighborhood that was an industrial powerhouse during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Textile mills, carpet factories, and manufacturing plants employed tens of thousands of workers, making it one of Philadelphia's most productive industrial districts. The neighborhood retains a strong working-class heritage and community identity despite experiencing severe economic decline following deindustrialization. Today Kensington faces significant economic and social challenges. Still, active community organizations work toward neighborhood revitalization.
Resilience
Community efforts to address Kensington's challenges include expanded library programming focused on education and skill development, neighborhood cleanup initiatives led by local organizations, youth programs providing alternatives to street involvement, recovery services addressing addiction and mental health, and ongoing community organizing advocating for resources and policy changes. McPherson Square and its library remain central to these resilience efforts, providing stable institutional presence in a neighborhood experiencing ongoing transition.
Nearby
- Kensington — Surrounding neighborhood
- Norris Square — Nearby park
- Fairhill Square — Nearby park
- North Philadelphia — Area
See Also
References
- ↑ "McPherson Square". Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. Retrieved January 15, 2024