As the crowds gathered around City Hall for the Phillies World Series parade last fall, fans would have been foolish to stand in the sunken reaches of Dilworth Plaza - since they couldn't see much from there.

That's why the lower plaza appears completely deserted in a telling photograph taken that day by one of the Philadelphia architects now working on a make-over of the 32-year-old plaza.

Phils fans, though, aren't the only ones who steer clear of Dilworth Plaza's multilevel granite labyrinth of benches, staircases, and vagrant-friendly environs.

Most people just hurry through this uninviting plaza that flanks the west portal of City Hall, but for the occasional concert or seasonal event. LOVE park, with its iconic Robert Indiana sculpture, long ago lured away the lunch and leisure crowd to the foot of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

At its most utilitarian, the plaza provides little more than entry points to the city subway, trolley, and commuter rail lines.

Like the barren plaza at the Municipal Services Building - where Frank Rizzo's statute appears to direct SEPTA riders to their buses each evening rush-hour - Dilworth Plaza is a concrete wasteland.

The good news: There's a promising makeover on the drawing board. The not-so-good news: The estimated cost is $45 million.

In record time over the last year or so, the Center City District has come up with an answer to many of Dilworth Plaza's problems. The business-funded agency is shopping a plan to city officials, civic leaders, and downtown stakeholders that would transform the plaza into a more attractive and useful space that mixes grass, fountains, trees, and attractive lighting.

So far, the official response has been encouraging, with the Historical Commission signing off, and with Planning Commission executive director Alan Greenberger talking up the design.

CCD chief Paul R. Levy says the idea is to create a "connector" between the expanding Convention Center's new front door on North Broad Street and the entertainment and growing condo neighborhood along South Broad.

Thomas Muldoon, head of the city Convention and Visitors Bureau, says the "gateway to transit" will be a great feature for visitors who want to explore the city and region using transit. As for the new plaza, Muldoon predicts that "it is destined to become the gathering place" for events, as well as casual lunches.

That said, some believe Dilworth Plaza isn't broken and doesn't need fixing. The existing plaza complements City Hall, and the estimated $45 million cost could be devoted to more pressing needs, they say.

Philadelphia architect Alvin Holm recently wrote on The Inquirer's Commentary Page, "The heavy granite pavers and parapets echo the base of City Hall." As for the plaza's sunken area being lifeless, Holm says that's because city planners never added the "shops, cafes, newsstands, and drugstores below grade and around the perimeter of the sunken area" that would bring it to life.

After three decades, that plan is outmoded and isn't going to happen. It's time to move forward with a much better vision that will generate more activity in the heart of the city.

Other planners worry that the city has taken a backseat on this privately funded planning effort so far, a legacy of moribund city planning during two previous city administrations.

But Greenberger, the city planning chief, says his agency has been kept in the loop. Indeed, the CCD design team of KieranTimberlake and the Olin Partnership made several improvements to their design in response to public comments. For his part, Greenberger has his staff properly focusing on a big-picture look at the entire City Hall area.

A number of civic leaders, city officials, tourism experts, and surrounding property owners have raised support for the plaza makeover. SEPTA officials also should welcome a new above-ground look, since they're nearing the long-delayed overhaul of the City Hall subway station.

The next challenge is to raise the funds for Dilworth Plaza's transformation. Clearly, this is an economic- development and transit-related public-works project worthy of state and federal support. For foundation and other private donors, it's a way for them to put their stamp on a Center City landmark.