On April 10, State Senator Vincent Hughes joined Fairmount Park Conservancy to announce $2.3 million in support for the Welsh Fountain Gardens from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority through Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Multimodal Transportation Fund. These grant funds will advance critical pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure to improve safe public access at the site of the John Welsh Memorial Fountain in West Fairmount Park, where Fairmount Park Conservancy has developed a community-informed plan to restore the historic fountain and revitalize its surrounding landscape for 21st century park visitors.
Aleandra Elliott from the office of State Representative Roni Green (190th District) attended the ceremony to join Senator Hughes in presenting the state funding. City officials were on hand to celebrate the investment as well, including City Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. (4th District) and Liz Svekla, Director of Planning, Preservation, and Property Management for Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
“The state is investing $2.3M to support the Fairmount Park Conservancy in bringing the Welsh Fountain Gardens back to life,” said Senator Vincent Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair. “This is a project that has been driven by thoughtful community input from the very start. Once complete, the area will be completely transformed into a beautiful outdoor space that is significantly safer and more accessible for pedestrians. I can’t wait to see the redesigned space and celebrate with everyone who is working hard to make this project a reality.”
John Welsh Memorial Fountain was first built after the 1876 Centennial Exposition and was a popular gathering place for several decades in the early 20th century. The fountain has not functioned for several decades, and the garden area around the fountain is also challenged by lack of tree canopy and unsafe pedestrian access.
To address these issues, the Conservancy engaged landscape architects Nelson Byrd Woltz to restore the fountain and reimagine the area. Before creating new designs, the Conservancy and Nelson Byrd Woltz led an extensive community engagement process in 2023 and 2024. The design team used an online survey, community events, and interviews to gather perspectives from community members and park users.
Key design elements include:
- Restoration of the fountain and adjacent walkways
- Learning features near the Please Touch Museum, including a water feature and climbable boulders
- A more contemplative landscape toward the Parkside neighborhood, incorporating public art
- Interpretive signage highlighting Parkside’s cultural and historical significance
In addition to improvements at the site, traffic calming strategies – including narrower roadways, better lighting, and accessible crossings – will focus on pedestrian safety in the surrounding roadways.
The Conservancy is managing this project in coordination with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the City of Philadelphia Department of Streets.
This work builds on the success of nearby Parkside Pedestrian Improvements led by Fairmount Park Conservancy to add roundabouts, reduce car speeds, and improve crosswalks and bike lanes along the southern edge of West Fairmount Park. After the first phase of Pedestrian Improvements, Parkside Avenue successfully came off Philadelphia’s High Injury Network – the city’s designation for the 12% of streets that account for 80% of all traffic-related deaths and serious injuries.
The upcoming Welsh Fountain Gardens plan proposes to build on the success of previous interventions to so that surrounding streets no will not present a barrier to neighbors seeking access to West Fairmount Park’s trails, play spaces, and fields. The Multimodal Transportation grants will further this critical feature of the Welsh Fountain Gardens.
“Safe access is integral to the overall effort to repair this historic fountain and restore the landscape as a major civic gathering place for park visitors and neighborhood residents,” said Tony Sorrentino, CEO, Fairmount Park Conservancy. “When we invest in public spaces, we want to make sure everyone feels welcome – and that accessibility includes basic safety. We are grateful to have the Commonwealth’s support as we promote equitable wellbeing through access to public spaces.”
The Welsh Fountain Gardens project has received two Multimodal Transportation Fund grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development totaling $2.3 million: $200,000 awarded in 2025 and $2.1 million awarded in 2026. Fairmount Park Conservancy received the grants through the Fair Play campaign, an historic comprehensive campaign for Philadelphia public parks. The Welsh Fountain Gardens project is projected to break ground in Fall 2026.
Visit the Welsh Fountain project page for more information.
