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upgrades, and maintain the park on a daily basis. In 2016, with financial assistance provided by Old City
District, Old City Green replaced all the aging park furniture and seating area pavers, upgraded the fountain filtration and chlorination systems, and altered the park entrance walls and gate to present a more welcoming appearance. In 2019, Old City Green proposed, funded, and executed a redesign of the north section of the park, expanding the garden perimeter, installing a central raised-planter feature, three new bench locations, and replaced the lawn with a deep-bed crushed brick surface.
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unveiled and dedicated on
October 5, 2007. The park itself had fallen into disrepair by the mid-1990s, and its gate was generally kept locked by the Fire Department. But a restoration effort, begun in summer of 2006 led by Old City residents Janet Kalter and Joe Schiavo, brought the park back into public use. In the wake of the sculpture's dedication, Fire Department officials consented to restoration work on the fountain.
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the one-ton sculpture also contains several brass nameplates representing
Philadelphia firefighters fallen in the line of duty over four centuries. The sculpture was partially funded by the Fire Department and by more than 1.5 million pennies donated by schoolchildren in 500 area schools. It was
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The work began in June 2008 and the fountain was restored to operation in August. The Fire
Department formally returned the fountain to service in a Nov. 1 ceremony. Kalter and Schiavo, now incorporated as Old City Green, have continued to propose and execute major improvement projects, minor
160:
became "one of the city's best-known landmarks." But it eventually deteriorated and became a potential hazard. For a while, the sculpture was kept from tumbling onto the sidewalk by ropes rigged by the firefighters from the firehouse next door. In 1996, it was removed to city storage.
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In 2019, a mural, depicting the history of organized firefighting in
Philadelphia and founding of the Philadelphia Fire Department and subsequent supporting organizations, was installed on the east wall of the park. The mural, designed by Eric Okdeh, was a partnership project of
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The park was created in the mid-1960s after the demolition of four 3- and 4-story commercial buildings that had stood on the northeast corner of 4th and Arch
Streets. A firehouse was built on the corner lots, while the lot formerly occupied by 325 Arch was cleared.
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collected from local schoolchildren, and it incorporated a device that delivered a recorded two-minute speech on fire prevention at the push of a button.
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92:. It is open to the public during daylight hours and is maintained by local volunteers now incorporated as Old City Green.
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July 2020: Looking north from the central seating area to the garden area, which was improved in 2019
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The park was improved following the 1976 grant of money from a city-held fund established by banker
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and covered it with casts of 1,000 keys collected from local schoolchildren. Called
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July 2020: Looking south from the garden toward the seating area and fountain
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U.S. Treasury
Department, June 10, 1971. Retrieved 29 October 2007.
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Photo of buildings demolished to clear parkland, November 20, 1959
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October 2009: Looking south toward the fountain and the bust of
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In 2003, the city's public arts agency commissioned sculptor
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was installed atop the park's front wall. It was made of
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Photo of rear wall under construction, December 14, 1967
426:"Refurbished Fire Station Fountain Unveiled in Old City"
247:. Old City Civic Association. 2008-09-06. Archived from
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Over the next two decades, the sculpture, also known as
293:"Girard Fountain Park- Philadelphia, PA Image Gallery"
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388:, August 19, 2001. Retrieved 29 October 2007 via
339:"Mint Director Unveils Penny Franklin Sculpture."
789:
168:to replace the older work. Peniston sculpted a
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474:Photo of rear wall, completed, March 30, 1969
414:, October 9, 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2007.
375:, 22 October 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2007.
245:"Girard Fountain Park Now Re-open to Public!"
468:Photo of rear wall under construction, 1969
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53:July 2020: The fountain and the 2019 mural
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512:Before-and-after photos of restored park
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384:"Statue may return to mint condition,"
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113:(1750–1831) to improve areas near the
686:Independence National Historical Park
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269:"James Peniston Sculpture: Location:
798:1960s establishments in Pennsylvania
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518:2009 photos of restored fountains.
197:, the PFD Family Association, and
140:was unveiled on June 10, 1971, by
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218:"James Peniston Sculpture: Work:
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450:A history of the park's location
23:October 2007: The dedication of
808:Municipal parks in Philadelphia
299:from the original on 2011-06-06
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132:and covered with almost 80,000
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666:Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park
358:"Big Heads," Scene on the Road
1:
424:Kuznits, Hadas (2008-11-01).
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195:Philadelphia Fire Department
76:is a 0.15-acre (610 m)
7:
317:"James Peniston Sculpture:
27:a nine-foot bronze bust of
16:Pocket park in Philadelphia
10:
834:
514:, August 2008, Flickr.com.
329:retrieved 29 October 2007.
282:retrieved 29 October 2007.
231:retrieved 13 October 2007.
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774:
741:Spruce Street Harbor Park
626:
480:Photo of front wall with
402:"Ben Franklin is busted,"
553:39.952502°N 75.1462815°W
120:In 1971, a sculpture of
761:Wissahickon Valley Park
505:at Philadelphia Public
484:sculpture, May 11, 1977
191:Mural Arts Philadelphia
813:Old City, Philadelphia
558:39.952502; -75.1462815
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386:Philadelphia Inquirer
369:Philadelphia Inquirer
126:Reginald E. Beauchamp
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676:Girard Fountain Park
486:, PhillyHistory.org.
476:, PhillyHistory.org.
470:, PhillyHistory.org.
464:, PhillyHistory.org.
458:, PhillyHistory.org.
452:at jepsculpture.com.
428:. KYW Newsradio 1060
74:Girard Fountain Park
766:Weccacoe Playground
746:Stephen Girard Park
577:Philadelphia portal
549: /
751:Thomas Paine Plaza
736:Rittenhouse Square
530:, October 9, 2013
501:Keys To Community'
492:Keys To Community,
407:2016-03-03 at the
363:2012-04-19 at the
344:2008-09-17 at the
325:2007-11-10 at the
278:2007-11-10 at the
271:Keys To Community,
227:2007-11-10 at the
220:Keys To Community,
178:Keys To Community,
124:by local sculptor
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63:
55:
47:
36:
25:Keys To Community,
785:
784:
756:Washington Square
528:Keys To Community
122:Benjamin Franklin
29:Benjamin Franklin
825:
716:Penn Treaty Park
691:Innovation Plaza
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84:neighborhood of
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731:Reading Viaduct
671:Franklin Square
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526:description of
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409:Wayback Machine
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367:, blog post by
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346:Wayback Machine
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327:Wayback Machine
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280:Wayback Machine
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229:Wayback Machine
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172:of Franklin in
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721:Pennypack Park
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711:Pastorius Park
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706:Malcolm X Park
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661:Fox Chase Farm
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651:Fairmount Park
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494:3 October 2007
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482:Penny Franklin
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444:External links
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319:Penny Franklin
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295:. Waymarking.
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166:James Peniston
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138:Penny Franklin
115:Delaware River
111:Stephen Girard
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33:James Peniston
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778:List of parks
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656:Fitler Square
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641:Dilworth Park
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631:Burholme Park
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251:on 2011-07-17
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818:Pocket parks
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726:Pretzel Park
696:Logan Circle
681:Hunting Park
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619:Philadelphia
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430:. Retrieved
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412:The Bulletin
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301:. Retrieved
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253:. Retrieved
249:the original
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158:Penny Benny,
157:
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152:21st century
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101:20th century
86:Philadelphia
73:
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31:by sculptor
24:
803:Arch Street
646:Eakins Oval
556: /
373:Tom Gralish
146:Mary Brooks
90:Arch Street
78:pocket park
792:Categories
636:Clark Park
544:75°08′47″W
541:39°57′09″N
490:Photos of
432:2008-11-04
390:LexisNexis
303:2009-07-11
255:2008-08-29
205:References
701:Love Park
144:Director
142:U.S. Mint
88:, at 325
405:Archived
361:Archived
342:Archived
323:Archived
297:Archived
276:Archived
225:Archived
82:Old City
44:Franklin
503:s entry
134:pennies
130:acrylic
96:History
80:in the
273:2007,"
222:2007,"
193:, the
174:bronze
614:Parks
199:Wawa
170:bust
616:of
794::
236:^
201:.
148:.
117:.
606:e
599:t
592:v
508:.
435:.
392:.
306:.
258:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
