EXPLORE FITLER SQUARE

Fitler Square is a city park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, bounded on the east by 23rd Street, on the west by 24th Street, on the north by Panama Street, and on the south by Pine Street. It is in the southwestern part of Philadelphia’s Center City district. Fitler Square was named for late 19th century Philadelphia mayor Edwin Henry Fitler.

Neighborhood

Before the 1950s the neighborhood was a prime example of the urban blight that had overcome much of the city. The park itself was described as a “mudhole inhabited by drunks and empty bottles”. In the mid 1950s, The Center City Residents’ Association successfully petitioned Mayor Clark to do something about the decline of the neighborhood. Working together, they freed up mortgage money for the construction of new homes and rehabilitation of the neighborhood.

Today the neighborhood is mostly residential and composed of single-family homes, and it is within a short walk of the commercial areas of Center City. On the television show Philly, Kim Delaney’s character “Kathleen” was portrayed as living in a small apartment building overlooking the park. Hojun Li, co-editor of the film The Sixth Sense, claims to have been inspired by children in Fitler Square.

Sculptures

A sculpture of three turtles adorns the park, as well as sculptures of a Grizzly Bear and a ram. The center of the park is dominated by a Victorian-era fountain which flows most of the year.

Education

The Philadelphia School, a private institution, is located at 2501 Lombard St. The school, which originally opened in 1972, offers preschool through 8th grade classes.
The Free Library of Philadelphia operates the Philadelphia City Institute on the first floor and lower level of an apartment complex at 1905 Locust Street.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

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