Edmund Bacon (1910-2005), who conceived LOVE Park, signs a skateboard on the first day of summer, 2005. Pics

LOVE Park (JFK Plaza) was built in the 1960s at the eastern end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and across from City Hall. In the late 1980s, by an accident of history, young people discovered that the park's curving stairs and ledges were perfect for skateboarding.

In 2002 the City enforced a skateboarding ban in LOVE Park and renovated the space. On July 22, 2003 the Coalition to Free LOVE Park made a compromise proposal, which received positive feedback.

The city challenged the skateboarders to come up with a plan and with the money. They did both. The city still said no.

Mayor Street's legacy of opposition to skateboarding in LOVE will likely not change. The upcoming mayoral election is the focus. We'll report candidates positions on LOVE and skateboarding in this space. The good news is that several generations of skateboarders are now voters!

Skating in LOVE Park Once Again! Several thousand skateboarders and supporters descended on LOVE Park on June 21, 2005, to celebrate Go Skateboarding Day and to advocate the reopening of LOVE Park. Though skateboarding is still illegal in the Park, the skateboarders (along with the Bio 2005 protesters) outnumbered the police and peacefully enjoyed hours of skating. Click for pictures At City Hall's Gift Shop Visit the gift shop at City Hall and on the rack with post cards and greeting cards is this one of a skateboarder at LOVE Park. The gift shop buyer knew this represented the best of Philadelphia to visitors. Let's hope the mayor visits the gift shop more often! Click picture for enlargement. [October 2004]