McPherson Square

Type	Neighborhood
Location	Kensington / North Philadelphia
ZIP code(s)	19134
Named for	McPherson Square park
Boundaries	Roughly Lehigh Avenue to Indiana Avenue, Front Street to Frankford Avenue
Adjacent	Kensington, Harrowgate, Port Richmond
Major streets	Kensington Avenue, Indiana Avenue, E Street
Transit	Market-Frankford Line (nearby), SEPTA bus routes
Landmarks	McPherson Square park, near opioid crisis epicenter

McPherson Square is a neighborhood in the Kensington area of Philadelphia, named for the park at its center. The neighborhood has been significantly impacted by the opioid crisis that has devastated the broader Kensington area.

McPherson Square Park

McPherson Square is a small public park:

Neighborhood green space
Historic park
Community efforts to maintain
Impacted by surrounding conditions

Opioid Crisis

McPherson Square has been at the epicenter of Philadelphia's opioid crisis:

Open-air drug markets nearby
Homeless encampments
Overdose deaths
Public health emergency
City intervention efforts
Community trauma

Character

Housing

Rowhouses
Significant vacancies
Mixed conditions
Very affordable
Abandoned properties

Challenges

Opioid crisis impact
Crime
Poverty
Property abandonment
Limited services

Community

Longtime residents persevering
Community organizations
Harm reduction services
Neighborhood improvement efforts

Living in McPherson Square

Severe challenges present
Very affordable housing
Community struggles
Near transit

Getting There

Market-Frankford Line: Nearby stations
SEPTA buses: 3, 60
Kensington Avenue: Main corridor