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LOVE Park
Philadelphia’s iconic John F. Kennedy Plaza — better known as LOVE Park — is most famously the home of Robert Indiana’s iconic (and highly Instagrammable!) LOVE statue, which has resided in the space almost continuously since 1976.
But that essential piece of Philly public art is just one of many things to explore and enjoy at this Center City West space, which also offers green areas, a fountain, walking paths, seatings, The Portal and the LOVE Park Visitor Center, which opened in May 2021.
The park is conveniently located near City Hall, offering views of the architectural treasure and all the activities that take place in its shadow.
LOVE Park serves as the grand entrance to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, carrying residents and visitors between City Hall and top attractions like the Barnes Foundation, The Franklin Institute and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Designed to let visitors and vendors use the space as needed, LOVE Park creates an environment that brings together world travelers, lunchtime snackers, sunbathers, fitness buffs and performers.
Major renovations completed in 2018 put the LOVE sculpture at the center of the park, creating plenty of photo-ready opportunities. A new fountain with programmable jets and lights is also selfie-worthy.
LOVE Park offers flexible public space, as well as regular programming like weekday lunch trucks and Wedding Wednesdays. — Photo courtesy Philadelphia Parks and Recreation
Those visiting the park on a Wednesday just might see a wedding beneath the iconic sculpture. Ceremonies for couples who register in advance take place every week, March through October.
Additional events at LOVE Park have included free fitness classes, cultural celebrations and music festivals. It also hosts Philadelphia’s annual Christmas Village, where dozens of vendors sell gifts, handmade crafts and snacks in an open-air market each November and December.
Most recently seen in New York City, the hit art installation The Portal arrived in Philly’s LOVE Park in October 2024.
Created by Lithuanian artist Benediktas Gylys, The Portal links the City of Brotherly Love to faraway countries around the world via a massive 24/7 video livestream.
Find The Portal near the LOVE Park Visitor Center, right on the corner of 16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard.
Visitor services are available at LOVE Park in the form of the LOVE Park Visitor Center.
— Photo by D. King
At the stand-alone information services kiosk, visitors can purchase tickets to local attractions, shop for souvenirs in the gift store, and get in-person visitation and tour info through multi-lingual staffing.
The LOVE Park Visitor Center is run by the Independence Visitor Center Corporation and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
John F. Kennedy Plaza was designed by famed city planner Edmond Bacon (father of actor Kevin Bacon) and originally constructed over an underground parking garage in 1965.
— Photo by Visit Philadelphia
The plaza gets its nickname from Robert Indiana’s LOVE statue, which was first placed there for the United States Bicentennial in 1976, only to be removed two years later.
Due to its immense popularity, the sculpture was purchased by the Chairman of the Philadelphia Art Commission, F. Eugene Dixon, Jr., and permanently returned to the plaza.
The Visit Philly Overnight Package — booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 — comes with free hotel parking (worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia), overnight hotel accommodations and choose-your-own-adventure perks.