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Love Park is a public park located in downtown Philadelphia (downtown is also known as Center City Philadelphia). Love Park is located right in front of the Philadelphia City Hall. Love Park is also known as John F. Kennedy Plaza and more recently as Bank of America Plaza (Bank of America donated $250,000 and is the main sponsor of the park).
The main feature of the Love Park is the “Love” sculpture that was designed by Robert Indiana. It was placed in the plaza in 1976 and is a major attraction for tourists. If you want to stand in front of the sculpture and take a photo, you have to keep in mind that there is normally a queue. This is one of the most important things to do when you visit Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love!
The Love Park was recently renovated. Prior to the renovation, there was a large fountain and a skating area near the Love sculpture. After the renovation, the large fountain was replaced by a smaller fountain. Around the smaller fountain there are smaller fountains that come alive during summer and is a very popular spot with the kids.
From the Love Park, you will be able to see the Philadelphia Museum of Art, although it is almost 1.2 miles away.
Things to do in Love Park.
- Standing in front of the Love Sculpture and snapping a photo is a Philadelphia tradition. Depending on the time of the day and the season, the line might be short or long.
- During the winter holiday season (end of Thanksgiving to early January), Love Park is also one of the locations for the “Philadelphia Christmas Village”. The other half of the village is right in front of the City Hall (known as Dilworth Park). The theme of the Christmas Village is similar to Christmas Villages in Germany. You will definitely feel that you are in Europe. Get ready for hot wines, beer and Bratwurst!
- Love Park is right across the street from City Hall. So you should walk around one of the oldest City Halls in the United States. City Hall has a visitor center also. They offer some free services like trip-planning. You can also purchase tickets for the City Hall Interior tour and the City Hall Tower tour.
- You can walk from the Love Park to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It is a straight walk along the Ben Franklin Parkway. The parkway is very pedestrian friendly. On the way you can see the Logan Square, also known as Logan Circle. Logan Circle is one of the five original squares of Philadelphia (was part of William Penn’s plan for the city drawn up in 1684). Before reaching the Art Museum, you will also be walking past the Barnes Foundation and the Rodin Museum. Rodin Museum has a small but beautiful garden in front of it.
- From the Love Park if you walk on Arch Street (which is one of the streets bordering the park), you will reach the historic Reading Terminal market in about 5 to 10 minutes. Reading Terminal Market is at the intersection of Arch Street and 12th Street. There are plenty of restaurants and shops inside the Reading Terminal Market (my favorite spot for Saturday brunches is the Pearl’s Oyster Bar that is inside the Reading Terminal market). The setting is nice.
How to get to Love Park?
- The Greyhound Bus Station (the main bus station of Philadelphia) is right next to the Reading Terminal Market. You can walk from the station to Love Park.
- If you are using the Subway you should get off at the City Hall Station (The Broad Street Line and the Market-Frankford line intersect at City Hall). If you are using PATCO from New Jersey, you should disembark at the 15th/16th Locust Street stop (which is the last stop). You can walk from there easily to Love Park (take 16th Street).
- Love Park is right in front of the Suburban Station. Almost all SEPTA Regional trains stop at the Suburban Station.
- There are several SEPTA bus routes that have stops either in front of the Park or the Municipal building next to it or in front of the City Hall itself.
- If you are driving, there are several exits on I-676 that are very close to the Love Park. The North 15th Street exit is the closest.
Parking near Love Park.
The Love Park is on top of an underground parking garage. The entrance to the garage is on Arch Street at the corner of 16th Street.
What I like about Love Park?
Love Park is one of the most popular tourist spots of Philadelphia. At the same time it is also a very popular with the locals. The area around the park is full of buildings that are part of the City administration, like City Hall, the Municipal Building and the Family Courts. It is a nice place to hang out and watch the Philadelphia sunset or watch locals like me wandering about!!
Have you been to Love Park? What are your impressions?
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