Stu Bykofsky: Funds forcing a battle over Rittenhouse Square

WITH THE trees dressed in emerald finery and colorful azaleas in bloom, Rittenhouse Square is a pretty, peaceful patch in the midst of a big city's brass.

But beneath the feet of the park's iconic billy-goat statue, an ugly battle is raging for the heart and soul of the ageless beauty, pitting Romantics against Realists.

Money - more specifically, the lack of it - set opposing forces in motion.

The skyscraper-rimmed jewel in the crown is arguably Philadelphia's most prestigious address. Residents of the surrounding condos, hotels and townhouses comprise a core of the city's wealthy elite, yet not even they are rich enough, or perhaps not committed enough, to maintain the genteel glamour of one of America's most beautiful open spaces.

The square is "as important to the city and downtown Philadelphia as Rodeo Drive is to L.A.," says Joanne Davidow, a member of the board of the Friends of Rittenhouse Square, a citizens group that shoulders the responsibility - and the cost - of maintaining the park's Old World elegance.

The park is under the control of the Fairmount Park Commission. Executive director Mark Focht tells me that the city pays for such things as water and electric, maintaining the fountain, snow and trash removal, most pruning and trimming of trees. One full-time Fairmount Park staffer oversees the park during the week and another works the weekend.

The Friends fund their own employee from April to October and pay for all of the turf moving, lawn mowing, private landscaping, mulching, flower planting and maintenance of the benches.

 
The unrest began last year. Seeing increasing costs and decreasing support from traditional donors, the Friends of Rittenhouse Square executive committee hired Dan Biederman as a consultant, Friends president Wendy Rosen told me yesterday.

Biederman transformed Bryant Park, in midtown Manhattan, from what was known as "Needle Park" for the drug trade that flourished there, to a lovely oasis. For Rittenhouse, he came up with several ideas to, basically, enhance revenue.

That's when one faction went to the mattresses. Some were horrified when they heard that Rosen might bring a food stall to the heart of the park, plus advertising and the occasional closure of 18th Street for special events.

The first fusillade was an anonymous, aghast flyer that circled the park like a pigeon, forecasting dire commercialization.

Board member Joanne Berwind resigned because she was unhappy about where Friends was heading, I was told. I reached her yesterday in Florida; she said she was busy and would call me back. She didn't.

Rosen answered the anonymous flyer with a three-page letter in which she explained that Friends has fewer than 300 members and a budget of $450,000, adding that private firms and sponsors are "cutting back."

She ruled out advertising inside the square, said that 18th Street might be closed for special events in which Friends would share in vendors' revenues. There might be a seasonal 8-by-12-foot concession booth in the square and maybe more special events within the square, she said.

That letter was answered by an anonymous two-page letter calling Rosen's plan a "disaster," adding that it would be "opening the square to hoards of people and businesses," which sounds a touch, mmm, elitist.

"We have a fabulous square that only needs support from its surrounding residents," wrote the anonymous author.

Ah, yes. But where are they?

The Romanticists want to keep Rittenhouse Square pristine and bucolic, welcoming strollers, students, babies, dog walkers. The Realists don't disagree, but note the nagging fact that bills are rising and donations are not.

Which vision of Rittenhouse Square will prevail? The side that comes up with the money.

If the Romanticists want to keep commercial intrusion out of the Square, all they have to do is open their wallets.

 
E-mail stubyko@phillynews.com or call 215-854-5977. For recent columns:

http://go.philly.com/byko.