Paine’s Park opening | Photo: Jessie Fox
After 12 years of planning and dialogue, Franklin’s Paine Park, designed by Anthony Bracali and Brian Nugent, opened yesterday afternoon. With live music by DJ Gregg Nyce and food trucks lining the new space, pro skaters Chris Cole, Kerry Getz, and Tom Asta officially christened the grounds, and infused an overall positive energy. “The space is designed to accommodate skateboarding as an important energizing force behind the life and movement of public space,” says the non-profit’s website. “Paine’s Park is not a replacement for LOVE Park. It is an evolution of the lessons about skateboarding in public space, the development of new ideas about recreation and public space in cities and towns around the world, and something new altogether.”
Paine’s Park opening | Photo: Jessie Fox
Paine’s Park is just the first of a planned string of stakeparks throughout the city “to strengthen communities and empower youth by advocating for skaters and skateboarding culture.” At the core of the plan is “innovative design, community engagement and multi-faceted use.” A second park on the river at Grays Ferry Crescent is planned for later this year.
Paine’s Park opening | Photo: Jessie Fox
Paine’s Park opening | Photo: Jessie Fox
Good, maybe they’ll stay out of Love Park and we can REPAIR ALL THE DAMAGE THEY”VE CAUSED
I visit Love Park frequently and the skaters I saw were exiting to watch and fairly courteous(for adolescents). I always thought that it was total overkill to kick them out. Typical Philadelphia attitude: get something interesting and creative and try to stamp it out.
As a neighbor I find this a wonderful place for all age children, amazing to see the talents of the little ones,I think I might have seen one female, everybody behaves and are most courteous to all…..