I've wondered why Philadelphia has very few of these, and whether or not we could beautify more empty lots in residential areas with key gardens, as seen in many old-world cities such as Paris, London, Amsterdam and New York [the closest example of one you could see for yourself is Gramercy Park in New York].

FYI, a key garden is a restricted access park and/or dog run whose maintenance is paid for by the residents who use it. Typically, a 12' spiked wrought iron fence surrounds the key garden allowing full public view, but access is restricted to only those who hold a key [hence the name key garden]. The key is used to both get in and also to leave the park, reducing the chances of piggybacking.

To get the key, you typically have to pay for an annual membership or live near the key garden to be able to get inside.

South Philadelphia would be the first place I could think of where landscaped key gardens could work, since these would be generally safer than their open access brethren.

NAs can acquire the lots to construct these and make them inclusive of their community centers, and the landscaping maintenance is paid for through the dues, as well as the costs of maintaining the private nature of the park for those who contribute funds.

Basketball and tennis courts can be set up in such parks with landscaped barriers restricting their views from the street, allowing for privacy and non-interference from nefarious people roaming the area at night.

All-in-all, I think this would better some neighborhoods, as long as this is done tactfully. Private parks accumulate less trash to pick up, the adults and kids going in and out generally known to the neighborhood, and if designed correctly--can reduce crime without stepping up community policing or doing other things that are more expensive.

Waddya think?

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WHYY pays their CEO $750,000 a year. So WHYY should I renew my membership? Seems they have no problems finding money and spending it unwisely.


And this is why you should donate to PACCA, not PETA:

In September, PETA made headlines in Vermont and across the nation for asking Ben & Jerry's ice cream to use human breast milk in their ice cream, instead of cow milk

I think this is a great idea for the better neighborhoods like Center City, Northern Liberties, etc. But then again the better neighborhoods don't have vacant lots.

In poorer neighborhoods there are vacant lots but people don't have the care nor the money to make their own property look appealing, let alone empty lots.

Gramercy Park was never meant as a beautification project to "revitalize" an empty run down lot- it was property donated to the city under an agreement to preserve it and is now only for the ultra wealthy.

So the concept is nice for the upper class Center City folk to have private parks where a nice building or house would normally be built, but I don't think its a feasible solution to restore run-down empty lots throughout the city.

For an example, see the Spring Gardens between 18th and 19th & North and Wallace.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that. -George Carlin

I could be wrong, but it was my impression that those restricted access gardens (at least in London) were built at the same time the neighborhood was first developed, rather than horned in later. Would that make a difference?

First part I believe is true except in London, where they appeared after the houses appeared and have gone through several periods of growth, decay, destruction, reconstruction, decay and rebirth... and that there's some streets that can trace back history all the way to 1066... it's hard to say what was exactly planned where throughout all of time.

I have several books which attempt to provide a complete overall account of the organic development of London but I must say... it's really hard to make a narrative that will sell at Borders without drawing the historical account in with popular subjects like Royal progression, wars and such and often these accounts are filled to the brim with cliche.

Back on topic... think the idea of a key garden can be reformulated to work in Philly even in communities that have a mix of gentrified, old-timers and PHA within blocks of each other, providing that all involve contribute.

I could be thinking in fantasyland here, but building community parks separate from the upkeep of the Fairmount Park Commission that have vested neighborhood interest seems like a good idea.


The only thing I see as a drawback is that these gardens will become another object of possession to be controlled among area ward leaders.

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WHYY pays their CEO $750,000 a year. So WHYY should I renew my membership? Seems they have no problems finding money and spending it unwisely.


And this is why you should donate to PACCA, not PETA:

In September, PETA made headlines in Vermont and across the nation for asking Ben & Jerry's ice cream to use human breast milk in their ice cream, instead of cow milk

They could also become another source of neighborhood infighting and discontent ... anything fully gated will become a de facto off-leash dog park, whether a majority of neighbors want it that way or not. See the Fairmount dog park threads for a taste of what happens then.

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---Shosh

Not sure if you were joking, but I don't think so. The Spring Gardens are a couple blocks from the defunct dog park, and no one is taking dogs in there. They'd dig up the gardens, and besides, the gate is locked, only people with plots can get in.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that. -George Carlin