Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

Commentary: Gunshots shatter peace of Rittenhouse Square

It is impossible to exaggerate the affection that Philadelphians hold for Rittenhouse Square. Be they new transplants or lifelong residents, Republicans or Democrats, students or grandparents, suburbanites or South Philadelphians, all agree on one thing: they are passionately proud of their grand, gracious park.

Rittenhouse Square on the evening of the robbery and shooting.
Rittenhouse Square on the evening of the robbery and shooting.Read moreROBERT MORAN / Staff

It is impossible to exaggerate the affection that Philadelphians hold for Rittenhouse Square. Be they new transplants or lifelong residents, Republicans or Democrats, students or grandparents, suburbanites or South Philadelphians, all agree on one thing: they are passionately proud of their grand, gracious park.

Laid out by William Penn and surveyor Thomas Holme in the late 1600s, the seven-acre square has served as a public space ever since, in various iterations. Its current layout traces to 1913, when French-born architect Paul Cret designed the diagonal crosswalks, oval terrace, limestone balustrades and gardens: a green sea of tranquility in the midst of urban hustle and bustle.

But on the night of Oct. 18, the park's pathways still bustling with dog walkers and restaurant goers, peace was shattered when two men attempted an armed robbery in the center of the square. Interrupted by a bike-riding Good Samaritan, they responded by shooting him five times. Park users stampeded out; police streamed in. Fortunately, the victim is expected to make a full recovery from his serious wounds. A 17-year-old suspect turned himself in to police on Sunday.

In the 32 years I have lived on Rittenhouse Square, I've never heard gunshots in the park. To say that this is an alarming new development is an extreme understatement.

There have been other changes to the square in recent years. Sleeping rough, panhandling, vagrancy, and illegal drug use are on the rise, as they are city-wide. Concerned for the homeless and disturbed individuals who seem recently to have proliferated, neighbors are also concerned about the impact of their behavior on other park users. Consternation is growing over the deterioration of the square under the increased and unanticipated use of this great public space.

Despite park regulations and city laws, the efforts of social service providers, and the intervention of political leaders, it is clear that these resources are both uncoordinated and ineffectively deployed.

It is unrealistic to expect local government to fix all the problems of the city. As citizens, there are actions we can take to better our own neighborhoods and improve the lives of all.

That is the reason a new task force, now forming, will rely upon the involvement of caring city residents. To restore peace to the square, our action plan will coordinate the resources of Philadelphia's Office of Homeless Services, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Police Department, our representatives in City Council, and the Center City District.

A small working group has already met with:

Councilman Allan Domb and Elizabeth Hersh, director of Homeless Services, who have developed an interim plan to use outreach teams to assess the needs of homeless people in the square (e.g. shelter and permanent housing, drug treatment), and relate those to existing and possible solutions. This work is under way, as is investigation of a possible site to provide meals and services to homeless individuals.

Paul Levy, president of the Center City District, who provided insights into homelessness in Philadelphia and the factors driving up that number - including increased opioid and heroin use; local, state, and federal program cuts; and Center City's allure as a destination for panhandlers from other states. He also noted that some regulations are in place but not enforced, including the Fairmount Park curfew and limits on camping overnight in its parks. Some of the changes that were made in advance of the Democratic National Convention with regard to the police's ability to address disorderly conduct may also be having some unintended consequences. Finally, he noted that the Kenney administration is committed to making better use of the funds it devotes to homelessness. If that process were to be accelerated, more effective approaches to the hard-to-reach homeless could be prioritized from existing funding.

Betsy Hummel, president of the Friends of Rittenhouse Square, who is a strong advocate of securing the park. Having worked with the above constituencies for many years, she welcomes neighbors to support the Friends' mission of preserving, protecting, and beautifying the square.

Rittenhouse Square was once described by urbanist Jane Jacobs as the perfect urban neighborhood, for its exceptional balance of residential and commercial uses, diverse architecture, and outstanding gardens. This iconic park deserves to live up to that reputation.

Wendy H Rosen is Realtor in Center City/Society Hill. wdyrosen@aol.com