On November 2, the new public space on 30th Street Station’s south side officially opened with much fanfare. Circus performers unfurled a small banner above the large crowd, revealing the plaza’s new name: “The Porch at 30th Street Station.”
30th Street Station is a jewel, ringed by streets choked with cars and difficult pedestrian crossings, so the idea for an improved public space outside the station should be applauded. The station’s new “Porch” is an improvement over the barren sidewalk and parking lane it replaces, though it current design features and amenities are minimal.
Although the Porch was billed as “Philadelphia’s next great public space,” it reads more like a big parklet. That is by design. Instead of starting with a grand, expensive design for the space, The Porch is comprised of speedy, low-cost interventions, meant to make use of the new public space until a more permanent design can be developed and installed.
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