Welcome

by Tony DeAnnuntis

Welcome to the website for Philadelphia's Fitler Square. Fitler Square is justly prized as a gem among Philadelphia's neighborhood parks. And just as with a precious stone, its beauty and charm is enhanced by its setting. Built and dedicated more than a century ago, this half-acre park is in the southwest quadrant of Center City, just south and west of the better-known Rittenhouse Square. Bounded by Locust Street and South Street, and extending from 21st Street to the Schuylkill River, the Fitler Square neighborhood is an easy walk from the city's most lively commercial areas, yet remains thoroughly residential (more about Fitler Square neighborhood).

The Square provides the site for annual seasonal events and activities, including the Spring Fair, the Easter Egg Hunt, the Halloween Party, and the Christmas Tree Lighting (more about Fitler Square events ). Fitler Square is maintained with the help of Philadelphia's Department of Parks and Recreation. The Association supplies annual plantings as well as services that include lawn mowing and tree and shrub trimming and refuse removal.

An addition to the natural beauty of the Square is the collection of animal sculptures commissioned by the Fitler Square Improvement Association displayed within its unpretentious wrought-iron fence (more about the Fitler Square Improvement Association). And dominating the center of the Square stands an ornate Victorian-era fountain that flows most of the year.

The Square is named after Edwin H. Fitler, a well-regarded 19th century mayor of Philadelphia, and was dedicated to his memory soon after his death (more about Edwin H. Fitler).

A shipping, shipbuilding and brick-making center from the city's earliest history, the neighborhood became the home of some of the city's most prominent citizens. The majority of the buildings of the Square's neighborhood date from the mid-19th to the early 20th century, and the history of the neighborhood's development can be traced through the changing styles of its remarkably varied architecture (more about history of the neighborhood).

Though rich in history and lively with commerce, it's the human charm of the Square and its neighborhood that makes it a cherished jewel, seducing visitors and enchanting residents. A heady blend of neighborliness and intimate community combined with a cosmopolitan urbanity, all set near the heart of a major American metropolis, Fitler Square provides an environment unmatched by any suburban development, and affords a rich, exciting diversity that elicits and sustains the passionate loyalty of its neighbors.