In Spring of 2015, The OVAL hosted Future Sensations, a brilliant immersive exhibition featuring five “ephemeral pavilions.” Philadelphia was one of just four cities around the world and the only U.S. From kayaks on the Schuylkill to the soaring arches within the Wissahickon to the growing towers of Center City, each crosswalk illustrated the transition from park to city and back again. The goal for both Mural Arts and the design studio was to visually represent the idea of the Parkway being a unifying element between Fairmount Park and the city’s core. Each closed stretch of road was graced by a large-scale ground mural designed and installed by Mural Arts Philadelphia with the award-winning design and illustration studio The Heads of State. For the second year in a row, Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation retained Philadelphia-based urban design firm PORT to develop the plan and installations for The Oval+. This input, added to ongoing safety concerns about crossing multiple lanes of traffic, especially with small children, led the partners to build on the popularity of last year’s installations beyond the perimeter of Eakins Oval. The 2018 season of The Oval+ built directly on the public feedback and data that Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation collected as part of 2017’s “What’s Your Parkway, Philly?” More than 40 percent of visitors said they wanted to see more family-related activities at The Oval+. 2018įor four weeks, from July 20 to August 19, 2018, a portion of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway was transformed into a grand promenade with the theme, More PARK, More PLAY as part of The Oval+ presented by PNC. Thanks to additional sponsors: Knight Foundation, Visit Philadelphia, Inspire and Diadora. The Oval+ is made possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, PNC. A block for “PLAY,” located in front of Von Colln Park, features a pop-up basketball court, tether ball, badminton, ping-pong tables, and bleachers. A “HEAR” block, in front of the Rodin Museum, will feature an array of art installations, stadium seating, and a retrofitted double-decker bus that functions as a music venue and snack stand. A block with the theme “MAKE,” located in front of the Barnes Foundation willįeature outdoor reading and music rooms as well as a shipping container transformed into a public space for art + design. Three new features help to “Double the Fun on the Parkway” and encourage visitors to spend more time playing, creating, and hanging out both at Eakins Oval and along the Parkway.

The Oval+ presented by PNC returns from July 19th to August 18th! For four weeks this summer, The Oval+ returns to Eakins Oval and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, bringing more fun for all ages than ever before.

Flickit fridays