Geocats of Philadelphia (1 of 4) - The Sirius
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We decided to create a series of caches based on our cats, around our home in southwest Philadelphia. Sirius is just about the friendliest cat you could meet and loves being around people who can tell him how lovely and sweet he is - so we hid the cache in a park, the perfect place for people to gather. Beware of those muggles, though, when you’re searching!
Here’s a bit of history about the park from the friends of the park, who help maintain and organize events there:
Julian Abele Park is named after the prominent Philadelphia architect Julian Abele (1881-1950); chief designer in the prominent Philadelphia architectural firm of Horace Trumbauer. For his undergraduate studies he attended what is now Cheyney University, and went on to become the first black graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Architecture. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is among the iconic buildings for which he was most likely the primary designer, as well as much of the Duke University campus. Julian Abele lived in South Philadelphia at several addresses in the vicinity of what is now Julian Abele Park.
Julian Abele Park became the first new Philadelphia public park in over a decade when it was opened in 2008. Thanks to a generous grant from The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in 2012-2013, the park was regraded; paver pathways installed; a water source was added, and sod was planted in the central lawn area. In 2013, the Philadelphia Water Department, as part of their stormwater remediation program, replaced all the sidewalks around the park, planted trees in the tree pits on 22nd and Carpenter Streets, and created runoff reservoirs underneath the trees to help keep them watered. Additionally, the Pa Horticultural Society and Parks & Recreation planted interior trees, shrubs, and perennials.
The Friends of Julian Abele Park commissioned local artist Christopher Wheeler to create, fabricate, and install the beautiful perimeter fence and gate. The design was inspired by Mr Abele’s design of Duke University Chapel. After a grand re-opening of the park in May 2013, we went on to win a 2013 PHS Community Greening Award.
From its inception, Julian Abele Park was to be a passive recreational park for families and individuals to come and enjoy greenspace; read a book; socialize with neighbors, and listen to public performances. To that end, The Friends of Julian Abele Park have a Summer music series [for the schedule see: julianablepark.org].
Thank you and see you in the Park!