Jefferson Square Park
Location
Between 3rd & 4th Streets / Federal Street & Washington Ave.
About
Jefferson Square Park is indicative of the ongoing transition of the neighborhood around Washington Avenue, where the ethnic mix of Irish, Italian, and African Americans – and more recent Southeast Asian and Mexican populations – converge with the young professionals who are moving into new luxury town homes.
During the Civil War, Jefferson Square was used as a military encampment and parade ground. After the war, it was designed as a “strolling park,” but it fell into disrepair in the 1960s and 1970s. Jefferson Square Park has recently been reinvigorated. The arrival of new young professionals reignited community interest in maintaining Jefferson Square Park.
Star-patterned Jefferson Square was originally constructed in the early 19th century. During the Civil War, the park was deeded to the Union Army and renamed Camp Jefferson. Located close to taverns, transportation, and military hospitals, Camp Jefferson was ideally situated for a troop encampment.
After the war, Jefferson Square was deeded back to City of Philadelphia and was refurbished in the 1870s. Jefferson Square was designed as a “strolling park” with its wide paths, open, pillared entranceways, benches, granite retaining walls, and a central focal point.
The Southwark Plaza high-rise housing projects were built just north of the park in 1962. As the Southwark Towers fell into disrepair during the next two decades, the park also languished and was plagued by illegal dumping and drug traffic.
Residents rallied to save the park in the 1980s when the city proposed building an enclosed recreation center atop the site. The towers were imploded in 2000 and replaced with low-rise, single family subsidized units. In 2002, the Jefferson Square Community Development Corporation built new town homes bordering the historic park.
Website
Friends of Jefferson Square Park