8 Parks to see in Philadelphia

When you travel do like to see public places, plazas and parks the locals frequent? Indeed, there are quite a few to see in Philadelphia.

Whether you are planning a visit Philadelphia, or if you live here but haven’t noticed these monuments to see in Philadelphia’s museum district, this list is for you. In our research to develop a Tourist Scavenger Hunt in Philadelphia’s museum district, we’ve come across much information, some of which can only be gleaned when doing the actual scavenger hunt.

However, we also wanted to share some of that information with you for your visit planning. Here are 8 parks to see in Philadelphia.

Credit: Courtesy of PAFA
Lenfest Plaza
- What’s special about Lenfest Plaza? It is next to the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts and boasts a few public art pieces. These include the giant Pain Brush designed by Claes Oldenburgin 2011 as well as the Grumman Greenhouse designed by Jordan Griska. You will find Lenfest Plaza on Cherry St and N.Broad St., a few blocks north of City Hall.
Thomas Paine Plaza
- Across from City Hall to the north, you will find Thomas Paine Plaza and collection of quirky monuments. These include larger than life board game pieces. Artists Daniel Martinez, Renee Petropoulis and Roger White designed the various pieces of chess, checkers and other board games found here. This public art exhibit called “Your Move” saw its first day in 1996.
John F. Kennedy Plaza
- You will find the world-famous Love Sign in John F. Kennedy Plaza, commonly referred to as Love Park. This plaza is located northeast of City Hall, between it and Logan Square. Robert Indiana, is behind this public art installation. You will also find a large fountain and public benches here to sit and relax.
Sister Cities Park
- Sister Cities Park sits west of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, just off of Logan Square. Surprisingly, you will find a 10-geyser fountain, a children’s discovery garden, and a toy-boat pond.
Logan Square
- Logan Square divides the distance between Philadelphia’s City Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Further, it contributes to the symmetry of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway while further making it comparable to Paris’ Champs Élisés. It boasts the very large Swann Memorial Fountain.
The Oval
- The Oval stands below the Philadelphia Museum of Art where the Benjamin Franklin Parkway loops around. In particular, the Washington Monument stands in the center of the Oval, between the Eli Kirk Price Fountain, and the Ericsson Fountain.
Aviator Park
- Located in front of the Franklin Institute, Aviator Park offers paved paths, green space and public artworks including the Aero Memorial by Paul Manship. In fact, this memorial is dedicated to the aviators who died during World War I. It is an open bronze sphere that suggests the heavens and the earth, with intricately intertwined forms evoking signs of the zodiac.
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Center Square
- Directly across 15th Street and City Hall sits Center Square. Claes Oldenburg erected in here 1976 the 45-foot steel Clothespin. This is also the site of Philadelphia’s first waterworks. On another note, it was the first public water system in America to use steam for large-scale pumping.

We invite you to try our Philadelphia – Museum District Tourist Scavenger Hunt. It is a 4-hour guided walking tour around Philadelphia’s museum district you do on your mobile phone (how it works). It only costs $30 for your group. You will enjoy seeing these parks, plazas and much more while completing challenges and learning Philadelphia’s history.

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