The rebuilding of Dilworth Plaza from a drab, inaccessible concrete slab encircling Philadelphia's City Hall into
Dilworth Park, a green public space set to become one of Center City's most exciting outdoor areas, has been one of the most closely watched local development stories for three years now.
Finally, the $55 million project's official opening date has been made public. During an August 19 press conference,
Center City District CEO Paul Levy announced that the park will be unveiled Thursday, September 4 at 11 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
As Flying Kite
reported in late 2010, a 185-foot-wide programmable
fountain operating on recycled rain water will be one of the park's centerpieces; it will be transformed into an
ice skating rink during the winter months.
And because the 120,000-square-foot project's main mission has always centered on enhancing access to the nucleus of Philly's public transit system, it makes sense that two subway entrances made of glass -- and seemingly inspired by the Louvre Pyramid -- are architectural standouts as well.
Perhaps the most exciting Dilworth update, though, involves Chef Jose Garces being attached to the
cafe that will sit in the Plaza's northwest corner. The breakfast-all-day eatery will be similar to Garces'
Rosa Blanca and offer light Cuban-inspired fare.
Although roughly 10 percent of the project's construction won't be complete for another six to eight weeks, an entire weekend's worth of events will celebrate its opening, beginning with an all-day arts and culture festival on September 4.
Click here for a complete list of the weekend's scheduled performances and events.
Writer: Dan Eldridge
Source: Center City District
Architectural renderings courtesy of OLIN and KieranTimberlake