Marconi Plaza
Marconi Plaza | |
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Type | Oregon Station |
Marconi Plaza is an urban park square located in
Marconi Plaza has two main halves, east and west, which are divided in the middle by
Boundaries of the Marconi Plaza neighborhood:
Western half | Eastern half |
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Broad Street to 20th St. from Oregon Avenue to Packer Avenue including Moyamensing Blvd
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Broad Street to 8th St. from Oregon Avenue to Packer Avenue |
The urban park plaza itself, from which the neighborhood derives its name (Marconi East and "Marco" Marconi West), is a 19-acre (77,000 m2) rectangular park. The Roman-styled plaza is divided in the center by Broad Street and is bordered by 13th Street, 15th Street, Bigler Street, and Oregon Avenue.
History
The plaza design is credited to the strong influence of renowned architect Paul Philippe Cret in 1904 as part of his participation in the Art Jury reviewing the preliminary plans presented by landscape architects the Olmsted Brothers, who were then charged with a modified design to complete the work.
.
The F. Amadee Bregy School was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.[2]
Architecture
The original design of the Plaza was a two level
Over the years, many of the fine details have been erased, including the half circled indented curbline on either side of Broad Street at the center. This location also had, on both sides of the plaza, two reflecting pools of water. The pools were filled in to provide the foundation for the two statues that were later erected to support the cultural history of the immigrant Italian community and respond to Anti-Italianism.
The park is currently lushly covered with 25% trees adorned with park benches, open areas for two tot lots, a baseball field, basketball court, and country cottage style enclosed bocce court. The sidewalk border surrounding the park is densely lined with large maple trees with heights of 30–50 feet high.
Public art
Bronze statue of Guglielmo Marconi, sculpted by Saleppichi Giancarlo, was erected on the east plaza in 1975 though the efforts of the Italo-American Community organized as the "Marconi Memorial Association" headed by Dr. Frank P. DiDio. The statue was dedicated on April 25, 1980, to commemorate the 106th anniversary of the birthday of the world-famous Italian scientist and inventor.
Marble statue of Christopher Columbus was erected on the west plaza in 1976.[3] This work was originally located along Belmont Avenue in Fairmount Park, having been unveiled on October 12, 1876, for Philadelphia's Centennial Exposition. Thought to be the work of Emanuele Caroni, this is said to be first publicly funded monument to Christopher Columbus in the United States.[citation needed] It was purchased for $18,000 with money raised by Italian-Americans and the Columbus Monument Association, through the efforts of Alonzo Viti of Philadelphia and his brothers. The statue's initial installation began an annual tradition for the colony of mostly Italian Americans in South Philadelphia to march each year on Columbus Day to the statue in Fairmount Park. The 6-mile (9.7 km) journey was found to be too exhausting and in 1920 the celebration changed locations.
Controversy surrounding Christopher Columbus statue
- 2018
The words "Italian-Americans against racism" were painted on the pavement in front of the statue as part of a series of protest events on Columbus Day.[4]
- 2020
During the aftermath of the
Marconi East: Residential
Mollbore Terraces of Marconi: The 1930s Mollbore Terrace was a unique urban change from the densely lined row houses that characterized most of South Philadelphia. The design included front porches and a rear yard with an access service roadway for trash pick-up. Three separate Mollbore Terrace sections were constructed east of the plaza within the boundaries of 13th Street to 7th Street, and from Oregon Ave to Johnston Street. The layout departed from the standard street grid, offsetting the numbered streets that permitted placing a "mini-public-square" of green space for houses to face inward on all four sides and directions. The center large rectangular common parks space was originally designated as a "Terrace" that included pathways, grass and trees with an octagon-shaped wading pool at the west end and a raised octagon sand pit platform with a flag pole at the east end.
Marconi West: Residential
Roman Terraces of Marconi: The
Moyamensing Avenue Parkway of Marconi: This main angular dual street with an approximately 50-foot center median landscaped area and tree-lined street, crosses the standard street grid and was designed as an alternative roadway access to the 1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition. It begins at Oregon Avenue, that once was a headhouse entrance for the 1926 Expo, through to the intersection of 20th Street, Penrose Avenue and Packer Avenue. An architectural design for a grand public square like the squares of Center City Philadelphia (inspired by the Benjamin Franklin Parkway) was planned at the parkway's end point of Penrose Avenue, which was viewed by city planners to be the significant southern gateway to the City. The 1926 square was never developed.
Boundaries
In 2002, the City of Philadelphia legislated boundaries of the Sports Complex Special Service District. The residential communities defined included Marconi Plaza. The Special District established an overlay providing the basis for a new definition to Marconi East as community 3 and Marconi West as community 4.
See also
References
- ^ Annual Report - City Parks Association of Philadelphia, Issues 16-26 (pp. 67-70)
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 9, 1976, p 10-D
- ^ "Columbus Statue, Italian Immigration Museum in Philly Vandalized on Columbus Day". NBC10. October 8, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
- ^ "For second day, group 'protects' Christopher Columbus statue in South Philadelphia; mayor denounces 'vigilantism'".
- ^ "All Podcasts | Talk Radio 1210 WPHT".
- ^ "Frank Rizzo Mural Removed from Italian Market".
- ^ "Brawl ensues near South Philadelphia Columbus statue after march, protest at Municipal Services Building".
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Photographer punched during protest in Philadelphia; suspect charged". YouTube.
- ^ "The future of the Christopher Columbus Statue in Marconi Plaza | Managing Director's Office | City of Philadelphia".
- ^ The Philadelphia Inquirer, "South Philly Columbus statue to be moved from Marconi Plaza, placed in temporary storage", August 12, 2020
- Philadelphia City Planning Commission - Neighborhood Boundaries
- University of Pennsylvania Library, South Philadelphia Neighborhoods - See Map: Neighborhoods south of Passyunk Avenue and Mifflin Street[permanent dead link]