The Friends have supporters in high places, so by the time you read this the Christmas crisis of 2009 may be averted. But the fact that Philadelphia can no longer afford even this modest expense at its signature downtown park is further evidence that city government is in full retreat as the primary steward of public space.
The Friends already cover virtually all of the square's upkeep, from trash pickup to spring tulips, contributing $420,000 annually from fund-raising, according to the group's president, Wendy Rosen. The contribution toward the holiday lights was the only regular, tax-funded allocation that the city was still making in Rittenhouse Square, other than occasional big-ticket improvements like sidewalks.
Given that so many essential city services were pared in this year's budget crisis, it's probably not a good moment to argue for special treatment. Still, it's worth remembering that parks and public spaces are more than indulgences. They're essential to Philadelphia's long-term viability. That's especially true of Rittenhouse Square, which serves as the city's unofficial living room and is regularly mobbed by the full spectrum of its population.
The state of the seven-acre square matters because, as work becomes less tethered to a specific place, people and employers are increasingly choosing their home address based on the appeal of the local amenities. James Corner, the Penn professor who designed New York's wildly successful High Line park, argued at a recent panel discussion that when hard times come, cities need to ratchet up "their commitment to parks if they hope to retain talent."
