Enjoy Spring in University City

Flowers in bloom at 40th Street Trolley Portal Gardens
Apr 25, 2022 2 years ago
Notes

UCD works year-round to keep our streets beautiful, green, and safe for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. Whether we are planting 10,000 bulbs at The Porch at 30th Street, activating Trolley Portal Gardens, working with local businesses to install Parklets, or providing landscape services through our Green City Works landscape team, our impact on the physical realm can be felt throughout the neighborhood.

Are you looking for places to enjoy the beautiful weather? We've got them! Click on this interactive map of thousands of outdoor seats in the neighborhood.

Want more options? Read about locations UCD has developed throughout the neighborhood where you can lounge, relax, or enjoy natural beauty during the best months to be outdoors. 

The Porch at 30th Street Station

Every winter, we plant over 10,000 bulbs at The Porch at 30th Street Station so the space will be in full bloom by April. The Porch is a perfect place to escape the bustle of the city, feel like a kid again on our custom swings, enjoy lunch from rotating food trucks Tuesday-Friday, or catch a performance or fun giveaway. Make sure to follow The Porch on Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date with all of the exciting things going on!

Parklets

Each year we install Parklets throughout the neighborhood. These temporary seating platforms transform parking spaces into places to sit, relax, eat and enjoy street life. Unlike some Streeteries, our Parklets are open for anyone to use, whether or not you are visiting the host business. Landscaped with planters and furnished with movable café tables and chairs, Parklets add a distinct vibrancy to the neighborhood. 

Visit our three neighborhood Parklets at: 

 

 

Trolley Portal Gardens

Trolley Portal Gardens at 40th and Baltimore serves as a gateway for West Philadelphia trolley passengers and as a welcoming meeting area for the neighborhood. The space boasts welcoming seating, lush landscaping, and since early 2020 has been home to longtime neighborhood staple Renata's Kitchen. Visit Trolley Portal Gardens for a great meal, for a pop-up performance, or simply as a place to relax and recharge! 

 

Innovative Seating

In addition to our Parklets, we've designed and installed smaller seating options throughout the neighborhood. Our Looped In chairs (pictured) have found a permanent home at Woodland Green. Our bus seats offer a place for commuters to rest while waiting for public transportation, and are adorned with messages detailing the travel time to central locations in Philadelphia as well as signage identifying the stop's location. Our tree seats provide resting spaces for pedestrians on the go, giving people a sense of protection from the busy street and hot sun, all without hurting the tree.
 

Pedestrian Plazas

UCD works closely with the City and community residents to enhance the safety of the streets for the benefit of pedestrians, bikers, transit riders, and drivers. We have developed pedestrian plazas that use greening and design principles to make intersections into safer, greener and, more beautiful open spaces. Check them out at 42nd and Woodland, 48th and Baltimore, and as an extension of Cedar Park at 49th and Catharine.