The Garden of the Arts
The Garden of the Arts, is a 18,000 square foot green space at the Northeast corner of Broad and South Street in downtown Philadelphia, 5 and ½ blocks from City Hall. It has a common area, a dog run, and 35 community plots in which 45+ local residents grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Back in the summer of 2000, 34 local residents created this oasis within our urban landscape of broken pavement, crumbling buildings, and trash strewn vacant lots for the enjoyment of all Philadelphians.
Garden Past
The Garden of the Arts began in the spring of 2000 as the Broad and South Community Arts Garden when neighbors from the 1300 block of Rodman Street joined Virginia Trosinio and Allison Weiss from Washington West Civic Association to clean then green this 18,000 square foot vacant lot. The Broad Street side of this lot had been weed and trash filled for decades. In the early 90s, the South Street side was cleared of derelict housing and subsequently used as an equipment depot for construction of the sidewalks and crosswalks of the Avenue of the Arts. For 6 months, this use negatively impacted the quality of life of the people whose houses backed up to this property because of heavy equipment noise, exhaust fumes, persistent oil and diesel smell, and an unkempt industrial appearance.
After the construction of the Avenue of the Arts finished, the lot sat vacant, overgrown and trash filled for several years until May of 2000, when 34 neighbors gathered together to clean the lot, fix the perimeter fence damaged by the heavy equipment, then build 20 community plots and a dog run. These people filled 17 contractor trash bags with 40 bottles alone. Within one month, the quality of life for residents of the 1300 block of Rodman Street substantially improved as neighbors forged working relationships to tackle other issues such as graffiti, street trash removal, excessive noise, drug dealing, home invasions, muggings, and other crimes.
For many years, this busy intersection had been a frightening area that people rushed through on their way to party on South Street or go to work in City Hall and the business district. Now, because of the garden, people linger in this area to gaze at the flowers while they pester gardeners with questions about what they see. Everyone is eager to share their joy at seeing this unique green space. The area is safer with this inviting green space that draws everyday people into the area by likewise helping them feel safe. The corner of Broad and South Street has already become a unique destination for local residents and tourists visiting the Avenue of the Arts.
Garden Present
The Friends of the Garden of the Arts has partnered with Urban Green Partnership (http://urbangreenpartnership.org/) to develop this property with a visionary project that is supported by the local community. On Broad Street will stand the Big Green Building a 100% energy and water efficient environmental education center and green business incubation center that will focus on teaching all Philadelphians the economic and health benefits of adopting a sustainable and green life style. The Garden of the Arts will occupy the rest of the property along South Street and will serve to return storm water and gray water from the Big Green Building back into our thirsty water table, while managing the storm water runoff of 10 surrounding houses. The Garden of the Arts will feature traditional sculpture of local artists as well as living sculptures that will be irrigated with storm water. It will be high profile, educational example for all Philadelphians on how they can recycle storm water and gray water in their own homes. This green space will draw people into the Big Green Building and exist as a unique cultural feature on the Avenue of the Arts.
Friends of the Garden of the Arts (FOTGA), a non-profit organization with 501c3 status, has been set up to maintain the Garden of the Arts. FOTGA is modeled on existing, successful groups who perform maintenance for other Philadelphia green spaces such as Kahn Park (Friends of Kahn Park), the Azalea Garden (Friends of the Azalea Garden), and the landscape around Eastern State Penitentiary (Friends of The Ribbon of Gold). Through a comprehensive fundraising plan, FOTGA will tap into the myriad of resources from local businesses, developers, government, private foundations, and individuals.
People have donated a tea house, 2 large sculptures, one by local artist Isaiah Zagar, over 130 trees, 9 large ornamental grasses, 16 rose bushes, 11 large shrubs, plus hundreds of vegetable plants, annual and perennial flowers to this green space. The Garden of the Arts beautifies this once abandoned Northeast corner of Broad and South Street while it improves and sustains the community of the 1300 block of Rodman Street, Casa Farnese, Washington Square West, Hawthorn, and beyond. The garden has a positive, calming, and uplifting influence on all who pass by. It is interesting to see people get so excited about a green lawn, some sculptures, trees and flowers.
The Garden of the Arts is:
A community maintained, 18,000 square foot green space with a tiny annual budget collected from modest plot fees.
Provides 35 10' by 10' community plots to 44+ area residents for gardening activities (3,500 square feet of gardening space to the community).
Has 1 large sculpture, 1 shaded T -house, one tool shed whimsically decorated by local artist Isaiah Zagar, and over 130 trees. In addition, they have planted 9 large ornamental grasses, 16 rose bushes, 11 large shrubs, plus hundreds of vegetable plants, annual and perennial flowers.
Responsible for donating 70+ green ash, red maple, and redbud trees to area schools and residents. 35+ of these trees went to a cemetery in Upper Darby as part of the Department of Environmental Protection's Treevitalize program.
Serving as a venue for social interaction and community organizing that maintains and enhances the quality of life for residents on Rodman Street, Casa Farnese, the Symphony House and 1352 Condo, as well as the Washington Square West, Hawthorn, and South of South Street neighborhoods, and beyond.
The constituency of the highly visible Garden of the Arts draws from all parts of Philadelphia and generally benefits anyone who passes through the intersection of Broad and South. It is a welcoming gateway to South Street and Washington West neighborhood that brings delight and joy to all who see it. The 45+ gardeners who maintain this space represent a cross section of Philadelphia's population in terms of race, gender, age, and economic status. Gardeners hail from the Washington West neighborhood, Hawthorne, Queen Village, South of South Street neighborhood (SOSNA), and from South Philadelphia. The professions practiced by the gardeners include lawyers, medical researchers, development professionals, accountants, architects, internet network technicians, administrative professionals, artists, doctors, lawyers, retirees, independent business owners, and city workers.
Garden Future
This current 'diamond in the rough' garden already lends the intersection of Broad and South a feeling of safe, restful, and inviting openness. The promise of shops, trees in planters, benches stuck out on the street, and outdoor cafes cannot recreate the urbane sophistication of the unique form of community gathering space that only a significant green space can provide: a place for relaxation and non commercial human interaction. Look up the Avenue of the Arts toward City Hall and note the lack of restful green spaces where people are encouraged to gather.
The permanent Garden of the Arts will:
Have as much green space and trees as possible.
Feature intermittent water features supplied by water runoff and gray water from the Big Green Building and storm water runoff from 11 adjacent houses.
Be a model Philadelphia Water Department storm water and gray water management demonstration project visible to hundreds of people daily on the Avenue of the Arts.
Showcase public, living sculpture in keeping with Avenue of the Arts theme and trash receptacles with sculptural theme.
Provide seating and pathways to maximize potential for social interaction.
Provide wireless web access.
Have security in the form of fencing that is locked at night, adequate lighting, and surveillance cameras.
Have succession planting of native plants in its beds for year round interest.
Host special neighborhood events focused on art, the environment, and environmental educational programming offered by the Big Green Building.
Our Green Future
There is no open, public green space on the Avenue of the Arts. There are many theatrical, musical, and culinary venues on the Avenue of the Arts, but public, outdoor visual arts other than the usual banner advertisements are under-represented. Transforming the vacant parcel at the northeast corner of Broad and South Street into The Big Green Building and the Garden of the Arts will create another unique cultural feature in Philadelphia that will certify the international reputation of the Avenue of the Arts. A sculpture garden is the unique element needed to generate positive street life among residents and tourists that will spark and support ecologically sound cultural and economic activity for the 1200 through the 1600 blocks of South Street.
We ask you to imagine a relaxing, cool, green park with shade trees to rest beneath and lovely sculptures and flowers to enjoy. You can sit on a shaded bench and pass the time with a friend, or read the latest news headlines on your laptop. Imagine yourself in the Garden of the Arts next to the Big Green Building, in a green, positive, and hope filled space that you can experience as it brings balance and completeness to the Avenue of the Arts, and to Philadelphia.