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Commentary by Paul R. Levy, CCD President and CEO: Philadelphia was beginning its 11th year of growth when we started researching and writing our annual State of Center City report. Then everything changed. We considered not publishing, but decided only to adjust tense in the text, reflecting current realities.
Hay bales and cornstalks and pumpkins, oh my! Beginning Friday, October 11 through Sunday, October 13, Dilworth Park’s annual fall festival, Octoberfest, will return for a three-day celebration of all things autumn.
While Center City is enjoying continuing signs of recovery, including more daily pedestrians and transit riders, and more retail and restaurant openings, an accelerated return-to-office timetable is essential to a more robust recovery.
Every winter, visitors from across the region come to Center City to enjoy holiday traditions found only in Philadelphia. From the Macy’s Light Show and Santa sightings to City Hall’s Holiday Tree, Christmas Village and the Comcast Holiday Spectacular, major attractions can be found in every part of the Center City District (CCD). This year, plan the perfect holiday excursion while exploring the many shopping, dining and arts & culture destinations that define the District year-round.
Parkway Pals Play Day at Sister Cities Park will return for the first time since 2019 on Saturday, May 7 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. with free activities and entertainment for children and their families. The all-day celebration of laughter and learning is the official kick-off event for Parkway Pals, a summertime educational series that brings nearby cultural institutions outside for kid-friendly programming.
Visitors to the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink can ice skate for free throughout the month of February, courtesy of Capital One. Free in February presented by Capital One begins on Saturday, February 1 and runs through Sunday, February 23, when the ice rink closes for the winter season.
In October, CPDC surveyed its members and Board members of the CCD to determine what percent of their employees were currently working in the office downtown, the expected timetable for the majority to return, the most important factors that needed to be addressed to facilitate a return to the office, and the biggest advantages of a safe return.
CCD is starting work on enhancements to Sister Cities Park. We will be expanding the park’s opportunities for play by offering new components that engage children from a broader range of ages.
This spring the Air Grille, Fountain and Spring Training, return to Dilworth Park.