Initial Concepts

Under the leadership of Jake Kuklick and using the feedback from our neighborhood survey, team Carpenter Green has begun to bring the neighborhood's vision to life.  Below, you'll find three initial design concepts that were created based on the park survey.

We're planning to take these designs on tour throughout the neighborhood to solicit feedback and continue to craft the vision for the space.  These concepts are very preliminary, but give you a great idea of the hidden potential locked in this space.

Concept #1: "Rittenhouse Model"

Concept #1 features the most formal spatial relationships, containing many right angles and a straight sight line through the middle of the park from Carpenter Street to Montrose Street.  It is also the most symmetrical of the three designs.  Concept #1 also includes:

• No grass
• High amount of patio space
• Oval-shaped rain garden
• Oval-shaped dog area
• Primary entrance on 17th Street

CONCEPT 1 PDF.pdf

Concept #2: "Island" Model

Concept #2 is balanced around a central island of vegetation and meeting space, surrounded by lawn.  It is less formal than Concept #1, using curves in addition to straight lines.  The paved paths and circulation routes are similar to those demonstrated at Julian Abele Park.  Concept #2 also includes:

• Elevation changes (island down to lawn)
• No dog area
• Open lawn space
• Central rain garden
• Large flower beds

CONCEPT 2 PDF.pdf

Concept #3: "Sculputural" Model

Concept #3 is the least formal of the three designs, utilizing sweeping arcs and irregular curves to define spaces.  It exhibits asymmetry but is composed around a central patio area.  Both a dog-friendly area and lawn are present.  Concept #3 also includes:

• Two rain gardens
• Rear flower beds
• Primary entrance on the corner of 17th and Carpenter Streets
• Dog area separated by low wall
• 'Woodland' planting aesthetic

CONCEPT 3 PDF.pdf

Credits: Plans and perspectives drawn by Stephen Panasci, Peter Straus and Jake Kuklick.

Follow Carpenter Green on Twitter

Do you tweet?  Follow Carpenter Green on Twitter - @CarpGreen - for up to the second updates about our effort to build a park at 17th and Carpenter Streets!

Carpenter Green Meetings

The Carpenter Green group meets from 7-8 pm on the 4th Tuesday of each month at the South of South Neighborhood Association office (1901 Christian Street).

All are welcome to attend.

Who we are and how we got here...

Southwest Center City is the neighborhood bounded by South Street, Broad Street, Washington Avenue, and the Schuylkill River. It's an area sometimes called South of South or Graduate Hospital.  In a survey conducted by the South of South Neighborhood Association (SOSNA), residents identified the creation of new green space as one of the top priorities for the neighborhood.  A decade long building boom has claimed almost all of the neighborhood's vacant property.  In late 2011, a group of residents started meeting through SOSNA's Clean and Green committee to identify vacant land that could be preserved as green space.  The residents identified the northwest corner of 17th and Carpenter Streets as the last opportunity to create meaningful green space in SWCC.  They named this prospective green space "Carpenter Green."

Carpenter Green Flyer

The Carpenter Green group approached Councilman Kenyatta Johnson with the proposal to preserve the vacant, city-owned lots as green space.  Councilman Johnson threw his support behind the project and he and his staff assisted with negotiations with the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for preservation of this land.

Councilman Johnson Carpenter Green Support Letter

As a result of the work of the group of dedicated volunteers and Councilman Johnson and his staff, we anticipate entering an Urban Gardens Agreement for this property to begin the clean-up and improvement process.