In April 2024, Fairmount Park Conservancy and project partners broke ground on a revitalized FDR Park Plaza entrance at the intersection of Broad St. and Pattison Ave. The project welcomes visitors to the main entrance of FDR Park with a $6 million investment that marks the continued progress of the FDR Park Plan.
The Gateway Plaza is designed to be the welcome mat for FDR Park, serving as a meeting point and entryway for park visitors and facing the popular stadium district and several public transit stops.
Gateway Plaza Features and Amenities:
- Introduction of an updated and eye-catching “FDR” sign at the main park entrance
- Wayfinding information to help visitors navigate the park
- Misters for cooling off on a warm day
- Seating groves with benches for meeting friends and family
- Rain gardens that feature native plants and flowering understory canopy to absorb stormwater
- Bike racks to welcome cyclists
- Raised pedestrian crossing at the park loop road
The Gateway Plaza is expected to be completed in spring 2025. This is the third and final project in the FDR Park Plan’s “Gateway Phase” to begin construction. The immensely popular Anna C. Verna Playground opened in October 2023, and the park’s first-ever Welcome Center is expected to open to the public in summer 2024.
The Welcome Center will offer a staffed information center, public restrooms, a courtyard with food and drinks for sale, plentiful outdoor seating, and spaces for public events and meetings.
Ready to learn more? Check out the FDR Park Plan’s web page for project updates, FAQs, video, and more.
Renderings provided by WRT Design.
