I also think they should let the skateboarders back in too.

Dilworth Plaza is not that important as an entrance point to the subways. The most heavily used entrances to the central transfer stations are those on either side of Market on the west side of 15th. City Hall workers have a direct connection to the concourses via the NW corner entrance from the sunken plaza in Dilworth during business hours, so they don't use the circular steps that much either, and crossing 15th just to use them when they're not directly connected to a subway station as the entrances on the west side, or even those in City Hall courtyard, are, is a pain in the butt.

Dilworth Plaza could use some reworking, and I wouldn't remove concourse access completely, but I don't think that an attention-getting glass cube offers much utility. I mean, it's not like they're going to open an Apple Store or anything there...

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Sandy Smith, Exile on Market Street, Philadelphia
“Basically I figure guns are like gays: They seem a lot more sinister and threatening until you get to know a few; and once you have one in the house, you can get downright defensive about them.” --Theresa Neilson Hayden

not sure anyone is digging the cube, but it's designed with references to the free mason building nearby. Access should remain, perhaps via the circular stairwell with added elevator. grass and trees are also good for water runoff. just how much do you think putting grass on just the depressed side woudl cost? (fittingly, I think you could describe one side as depressed, and the other sunken)

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I'd like to see the skateboarders too, but I don't think the city can risk the potential liability. Not to the boarders themselves, but to anyone else they may injure in an accident. If the city makes it illegal and shows that they enforce the law, it could release them from liability in any humongious lawsuits that could arise in the case of an accident.

Even so. I still see plenty of skateboarders in the park on weekends. So it only puts a minor crimp in their style.

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Couldn't agree with this part more. Not to mention how much cooler it would make it. All the plazas surrounding City Hall are about 10 degree hotter than they should be because it is nothing but concrete and metal.

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The idealistic are no longer concerned with influencing public opinion and creating a free world of responsible and ethical social choices, but rather imposing opinion through legislation, mandating these ethics, and outlawing choice in what the loudest sample finds offensive.

Ban the Bans. It's a slippery slope between Idealism and Fascism.

I don't think there's any evidence that skateboarders pose a bigger liability risk for accidents than a million other kinds of activities that are allowed in the city. Hell, bikers are probably a much bigger threat to pedestrians. Obviously I don't think biking should be banned in CC; but the suggestion that skateboarders pose an inordinate threat to others (or themselves, for that matter) just doesn't hold water.

This post and the one preceeding nails the true issue to the wall: attract people. Dillworth is a fine civic plaza, not unlike Rockefeller, or Centre Pompidou in Paris. Attract the people--activate it!!! No excuse why the city could not make this a weekday lunch hotspot, adding trees and benches to the deadened north and southwest, and giving away free vendor licenses; then, on the weekends, attract bazaars, performers, markets. Offer incentives to restauranteurs and caterers wishing to set up makeshift restaurants. Show movies on a movable, temporary structure for that matter!!!

Providence, RI is a great domestic city to look to for making awesome lemonade from some pretty rotten lemons--they took their downtown and made an event out of it (Google "Waterfire"). Basically, they knew how to get people. Rich, poor, old, young,..., they all come out. Providence didn't build anything, they didn't pour millions of dollars into new structures; they simply utilized the existing resources and used them as backdrops for attractive theatrics. I believe the previous post aludes to a similar situation in Ireland.

Dillworth should not bear the brunt of the City's lack of vision--this is not a problem to be solved by Planners (sorry, guys, you did a great job with the plaza the first time). The words "if you build it, they will come" are simply not true in this situation. Rather, give Dillworth a shot in the arm with new trees, benches, and a policy to attract liveliness. That is what I want those new Conventioners--visiting Philly for the first time ever--to experience. Invigoration, excitement, people...all bought with a new attitude and some inexpensive reason.

You can do it, Philly!!!

It's a good place for gladiator fights.

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"You down wit OPM?"
Fumo: "Yeah, you know me!"

I am not, nor was I presenting a vessel for the holding or transportation of water. I was simply offering an opinion that I pulled from my hat. I based my opinion on observations of todays litigious society and of municipalities wishing to reduce their liabilities to said litigation, (Often wearing the guise of public safety.) If you have your own opinion (or conspiracy theory) on why skateboarding is forbidden in the park, I would be very open to changing or adapting mine.

P.S. Just say "public safety" and walk away. I know what it really means.

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Well, here's something we can all get behind: private funding for a Dilworth makeover. It appears that the CPDC/CCD has gotten a good start on the fundraising. Here's what PlanPhilly has to say:

saw this gem

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