Contact:
JoAnn Loviglio
T 215.440.5546
jloviglio@centercityphila.org
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Millions of Visitors Annually Since $55M Transformation from Barren Plaza to Vibrant Public Space

PHILADELPHIA (September 5, 2024) — Yesterday, the Center City District (CCD) celebrated the 10th anniversary of Dilworth Park’s transformation from a desolate concrete plaza into a welcoming, active, green public space that is now the most popular year-round amenity in the heart of Center City. 

CCD marked the occasion with an extended Live @ Lunch performance featuring local musician Patrice Hawthorne (produced in conjunction with the Women’s Coalition for Empowerment). Activities included an interactive community chalk mural and giveaways of flower bouquets and lemonade for park visitors. Additionally, the tree groves on the northwest and southwest corners of the park were decorated in seasonal blooms, which will be present through Sunday, September 8. 

“Back in 2014, we described Dilworth Park as the ‘city’s new central gathering place,’ and that has remained true for the past decade. Dilworth Park is a park for the people of Philadelphia,” CCD President and CEO Prema Katari Gupta said. “This space has helped a new generation of Philadelphians create memories together, all the while embodying Center City District’s core mission of clean and safe.”  

Since its renovation, Dilworth Park has had millions of visitors annually from every ZIP code in Philadelphia thanks in part to its location directly above SEPTA’s Market-Frankford, Broad Street and subway-surface trolley lines. In 2023, Dilworth Park welcomed more than 9.6 million visitors, averaging approximately 26,365 per day.  

Planning and design for the renovation of Dilworth Park began in 2007, and the official groundbreaking took place on January 30, 2012. The park was designed by Philadelphia-based architects KieranTimberlake, landscape architect OLIN and Urban Engineers. Financial support was provided by more than 50 public, foundation, and private funders, including a $15 million TIGER II grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and a matching $15.5 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A timeline of Dilworth Park milestones is included below, and a complete list of major donors is available online.  

"Ten years ago, we promised to turn this barren, concrete plaza at the historic center of the city into a prominent, civic gathering place, by providing well-managed, actively programmed, green spaces directly accessible by public transit," CCD Board Chairman Paul R. Levy said. " Dilworth Park continues to serve as a primary example of what can be achieved when all levels of government coordinate with the private sector and local foundations to create a public space available to everyone.” 

Dilworth Park has hosted more than 2,000 events, with more than 170 expected this year alone. Programming showcases the vitality of Philadelphia’s arts, cultural, civic and creative economy while engaging with workers, visitors and residents to promote Center City as a competitive and dynamic place to work, live and visit. Additionally, seasonal activities and permanent amenities, from ice skating and roller skating to the spray fountains and the Dilworth Park Café, create spaces that welcome in-person interaction not found elsewhere.  

Dilworth Park is managed by the Center City District through a long-term lease with the City of Philadelphia.  

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Timeline of Dilworth Park’s Milestones

2007: Planning and design for the transformation of Dilworth Park begins.  
January 30, 2012: Local, state and national officials join CCD for official groundbreaking. 
September 4, 2014: Dilworth Park opens to the public. 
November 14, 2014: The Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink opens for the first time. 
2015: Dilworth Park hosts the first Made in Philadelphia Holiday Marketplace. 
2016: For the first time, the Albert M. Greenfield Lawn is transformed into the Wintergarden for the holiday season.  
September 2018: Janet Echelman’s immersive public art, Pulse, opens at Dilworth Park.  
2020: Dilworth Park opens the Rothman Orthopaedics Roller Rink for the first time.

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Center City District, a private-sector organization dedicated to making Center City Philadelphia clean, safe and attractive, is committed to maintaining Center City’s competitive edge as a regional employment center, a quality place to live, and a premier regional destination for dining, shopping and cultural attractions Through public space management, streetscape improvements, and economic development initiatives, CCD plays a pivotal role in shaping the urban experience for residents, businesses, and visitors.