Keeping Center City clean, safe and attractive since 1991. Follow for all things dining, shopping, parks, and entertainment in Center City Philadelphia.
BIG NEWS: Center City District SIPS will return for the first time in 2 years this summer. Returning office workers, residents & visitors will have the opportunity to socialize during the revival of
#Philadelphia
’s favorite happy-hour tradition.
#CCDSIPS
👣 Open Streets: West Walnut kicks off on Sundays in Sept. starting Sept. 8, featuring the closure of Walnut Street from 15th through 18th streets & 18th Street from Locust to Chestnut streets, to allow for expanded dining, shopping, and activities!
Thank you to the William Penn Foundation for the generous grant to extend the Rail Park and help transform obsolete rail infrastructure into the Viaduct Greenway.
The CCD expects to have construction bid documents by April 2025. Learn more:
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Open Streets: West Walnut in September to shop, stroll, and dine along Walnut Street. What was the highlight of your experience?
🌱 Enjoy the greenery amidst the hustle; the bike lane planters in the office district are in bloom and serve as a welcome to those coming into Center City!
Work continues on West Market Street to add bike lane planters to delineate auto and bike traffic while providing opportunities for greenery in
#CenterCity
.
This project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority.
This weekend, our team was out installing new bike lane planters and delineators on JFK Boulevard, aimed at protecting bicyclists and increasing the greenery in
#CenterCity
.
Last night, we were proud to flip the switch on the new façade lighting on City Hall, in partnership with
@PhiladelphiaGov
and with funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the City of Philadelphia and CCD.
#PhillyShinesBlue
returns Tuesday, when more than three dozen locations light up blue to honor health care workers and first responders. We're also happy to announce that it's continuing through May.
To date this year, our on-street team has removed more than 300 instances of graffiti in
#CenterCity
. We appreciate our dedicated cleaners for their efforts in maintaining a safe and clean Center City.
❓ What is Open Streets: West Walnut?
🚶 For four Sundays in September, several streets will be closed to allow pedestrians to stroll, shop and socialize across several blocks of car-free space.
🔗 Learn more:
This spring and summer, our cleaning crew will thoroughly power wash the sidewalks of Center City. We thank the on-street crew for their dedication to leaving a clean pathway for everyone to enjoy.
Downtowns across the nation are finding ways to continue to thrive in a post-pandemic world, and Philadelphia remains a leader in terms of recovery on evenings and weekends. Read more in a new article by
@npr
:
A carpet of beautiful blooms at Sister Cities Park. The spring flowers are still doing their thing while we do our part and
#StayHome
. In all, there are 33,000 flowering bulbs in
@CCDParks
parks and planters throughout Center City. ❤️
#amor
🌷
Today, Center City District Board Chairman John Connors announced a two-year leadership transition plan approved by our board, including the shift of founding president Paul Levy into a non-executive Chair of the Board role effective January 1, 2024.
Thank you,
@farfarraway
for capturing the magic of Open Streets: West Walnut in today's
@phillyinquirer
! Read her latest article to learn more about CCD's car-free initiative and how it positively impacts
#CenterCity
. 👇
With
#CenterCity
's residential population increase to 119% of October 2019 levels, and an additional 6,100 residential units under construction, retail and restaurant demand is expect to hit over $2.3 billion in 2022. Read more in our recent retail report:
What a fantastic start to Open Streets: West Walnut! A huge shoutout to everyone who joined us for the fun and supported our local retailers in
@rittrow
. Will you be joining us again next Sunday?
Congratulations to our Vice President for Parks and Public Realm, and incoming CEO, Prema Katari Gupta on being named one of the 150 most influential Philadelphians by
@phillymag
!
Approximately 30% of the working residents of each City Council District reverse commute to the suburbs for work. They pay Philadelphia’s 3.8% wage tax as they work with peers who pay a tax of 1% or less which creates an incentive to move to the suburbs.
Our newest research report has found that the total number of workers, residents and visitors in
#CenterCity
continued to rise in October 2023 to 82% of October 2019 levels. Read the full report for more information:
This morning, we unveiled our annual "State of Center City 2024" report, providing a data-driven overview of the latest trends in the broader Philadelphia economy and Center City, organized by sector. Read the full report:
30 years ago today, on 3/20/91, CCD's first on-street teams began their work. Our cleaners, Community Service Representatives and parks staff remain committed to Center City through even the most challenging times.
.
1991 photo: J. Kyle Keever
2017 photo: James B. Abbott
After years of fundraising and designing and building, it's so exciting to see the
#RailPark
today. Chip seal is being installed, bench swings are up, and the landscaping is getting greener. Opening day is June 14!
As we enter the New Year, we thank our founding President and CEO Paul R. Levy for his years of dedication to Center City and welcome Prema Katari Gupta to the role.
If you're walking around
#CenterCity
today, Market Street and JFK Boulevard may look a little different! At the end of last week, our team spent several days refreshing the planters as we prepare for the spring.
CCD has planted 33,000 flowering perennial bulbs in 370 planters and four
@CCDParks
we manage, including here at Dilworth Park. Enjoy these beauties while you
#StayHome
and remember, they'll be back again next spring, 🌷
#tuesdaytulips
This fall, we're excited to welcome office workers back to
#CenterCity
with a series of morning and afternoon events starting on September 5! Learn more:
As another challenging week comes to a close, our
#FridayFeeling
is one of gratitude for our dedicated on-street cleaning staff. These essential employees continue each day to ensure that Center City sidewalks are clean — work that’s as important now as when CCD began in 1991.
(3/3) Hundreds of bulbs we planted last year are coming up in our parks and several landscape maintenance firms have received approval to do basic maintenance on our planters and in our parks.
These purple and red tulips at Cret Park are just some of the 33,000 flowering perennials that CCD has planted in more than 370 planters and four
@CCDParks
. 💜❤️
Recently named the most walkable city by
@10best
, Philadelphia, and in particular
#CenterCity
, is home to a large percentage of people who choose to walk to work versus other means. Read more in our "State of Center City" report:
Today, The Garden at
#DilworthPark
will officially open! Spend the weekend here (12-8pm Friday and Saturday, and 12-6pm on Sunday) surrounded by bursts of foliage! This pop-up experience features strolling entertainers and fun selfie spots like the
@templeuniv
flower wall.
The Pollinator Garden at Sister Cities Park features 4,000 pollinator-friendly native flowering plants, each carefully chosen to provide food and shelter for migratory and native birds and insects. 🌼
Tomorrow marks 30 years since CCD’s first on-street teams launched. A lot has changed since then, but our mission is the same: in 2021, as in 1991, we work every day to ensure Center City’s is a clean, welcoming, fun place to live, work and play.
NEW: Increases in office workers, shoppers, visitors, and theater- and museum-goers helped
#CenterCity
pedestrian volumes reach 78% of February 2019 levels. Read our full report:
ICYMI: For the second year in a row, Philadelphia was just voted the "Most Walkable City to Visit" in the 2024
@USATODAY
@10Best
Readers’ Choice Awards contest 🎉
We miss you at our
@ccdparks
, but we're grateful to everyone following
#StayHome
guidelines. Do you have favorite photo memories from Dilworth, Collins, Sister Cities or Cret park? Send them our way and we'll share them here.
#tuesdaytulips
For the sixth year, the Deck the Hall Light Show presented by
@IBX
is BACK! Starting on November 21, watch the western façade of City Hall come to life with animations across the historic architecture from anywhere in
#DilworthPark
.
@6abc
,
@RothmanOrtho
,
@TempleUniv
Congratulations to Garces Trading Company for opening their newest location at the
@KimmelCC
! Be sure to stop by during the day, or after a performance!
@GarcesGroup
Today, we're excited to welcome Clint Randall as Center City District's new Vice President of Economic Development. Learn more about his background and extensive expertise in real estate markets and urban economic development ➡️
Today, we're excited to share our 2024 Developments report, showcasing 66 proposed, in progress, and recently completed projects that highlight the continued evolution of
#CenterCity
. Check out the full report ➡️
Today, we’re pleased to release our “State of Center City 2023” report, highlighting Center City’s recovery and what opportunities – and challenges – lie ahead. Read the full report:
Merry on Market is in full swing. Tonight from 4-6 p.m. enjoy the beautiful sounds of the Timberdale Brass Quintet while gazing at the spectacular holiday lights at the Lits Building.
#ShopCCPhilly
#CenterCityDistrict
#CCDHolidays
Signs of spring. Our parks team is planting thousands of flowering perennial bulbs in the four parks we manage. The glorious results will be appearing again this spring.
Due to today’s air quality, all outdoor activities at
#CCDParks
, including Sister Cities Park's Pond and Dilworth Park's Rothman Roller Rink, have been suspended. Tonight's performance at Dilworth Park, The Arts on Center Stage, is canceled.
Over the next several weeks, you may see some exciting improvements on the Avenue of the Arts! Our team is working on restoring and revitalizing the light poles along Broad Street with
@avenueofthearts
.
#AvenueOfTheArts
The Lunar New Year celebration sponsored by
@TUKleinCollege
is back on (weather permitting)! Enjoy a traditional prancing lion performance by the Philadelphia Suns plus food and beverage specials in the
@RothmanOrtho
Cabin.
📍 Dilworth Park
📅 Tomorrow, February 3
🕟 5:30-7pm
After the hustle and bustle of the week, why not catch your breath with a warm beverage in
#CenterCity
's own outdoor sanctuary, the Wintergarden at
#DilworthPark
?
Have you had a chance to explore all of the new openings in
#CenterCity
? Check out our recent blog that highlights more than 25 new spots you won't want to miss!