Rittenhouse Square is one of Philadelphia’s most prominent and historic parks, and one of William Penn’s original four squares framing the city. The Square’s current layout dates back to 1913, when the newly formed Rittenhouse Square Improvement Association commissioned a redesign by French architect Paul Phillipe Cret. To date, the Parisian-style Square in large part reflects Cret’s original design. The Square’s main walkways are diagonal, beginning at the corners and then meeting at an oval in the center. With a large flower bed and a reflecting pool, the center oval is surrounded by a balustrade and ringed by a circular walk.
Over the years, the improvements made, including limestone balustrades and urns, had deteriorated. The Friends of Rittenhouse Square took the 100th anniversary of Cret’s design as an opportunity to restore these important features to their original state, without changing the design. In July of 2013, a team of conservators and masons started restoring the park’s limestone balustrades at the four corner entrances. In addition to the masonry project, the park’s lighting was upgraded for both security and aesthetic purposes. “What we’re trying to achieve is to bring back the park to what it should look like, enhancing it slightly,” said Betsy Hummel, Friends of Rittenhouse Square president. “I don’t think people will notice a huge change, but I think they’ll notice the park really looks nice, especially at night.”