Parking

Living in a city full of history, it is easy to miss things that are full of historical value and interest. We're lucky enough to have a wealth of fascinating locations at our fingertips and so don't always notice that they are there. Take this week's park for example. Located off 2nd street between Walnut and Chestnut Street in Old City, Welcome Park tends not to stand out. I always just thought of it simply as the space in front of the Ritz East movie theater and not as an actual park, let alone an actual park with a neat story.

Welcome Park was built in 1982 by the Friends of Independence National Historical Park to commemorate William Penn's founding of Pennsylvania 300 years prior in 1682. The park is located at the former site of the Slate Roof House, where Penn lived from 1699-1701 and from where he wrote and put into law the "Charter of Privileges," which guaranteed religious and civil freedom to all living in Pennsylvania.

Designed by Venturi, Rauch and Scott Brown, a renowned architectural firm, the park incorporates pretty much anything you would ever want to known about William Penn and the history of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. A time line of Penn's life is emblazoned on the southern wall of the park. A map of Philadelphia as it was then stretches out in marble across the park's ground. In the center of Welcome Park is a miniature version of the Alexander Milne Calder statue of Penn that is atop city hall. Towards the eastern wall of the park is a replica of the Slate Roof House, marking where it once stood. The house was torn down in 1867, despite protests from those concerned about its historical value.

Welcome Park is indeed welcoming; it has many benches and a pleasant scattering of trees. However, don't think the park is named Welcome as some sort of tourist draw. It's actually named after the ship that Penn traveled on to get over here: The Welcome. Perhaps the next time you're heading out to see a movie or have a few drinks over in Old City, you'll stop over at Welcome Park and be amazed how much history is right there, on a daily basis, and we never really notice it.

Upcoming Events in Parks:

Concerts:

• Michal Beckham at Cedar Park (Previous Parking). Friday, 6/26, 7PM.

Get Involved:

• Dickinson Square Park Clean Up Saturday, 9AM, Tasker and 4th Streets (previous Parking).

Farmers' Markets:

• Schuylkill River Park, Wednesdays, 3-7PM
• Fitler Square (Previous Parking), Saturdays, 9AM-1PM
• Clark Park (Previous Parking), Thursdays, 3-7PM, Saturdays, 10AM-1PM
• Rittenhouse Square (Tuesdays, 10AM-1PM and Saturdays 9:30AM-3PM
• Palmer Park Frankford Avenue and East Palmer Street, Thursdays, 2-6PM

If you know of anything exciting happening in your local park in the near future, please e-mail amy@phillyist.com!

Photo by the author.