Today, the Rittenhouse Square Neighborhood includes the beautiful tree-filled park, luxury apartments and homes, an office tower, popular restaurants, Barnes and Noble Bookstore, and a five-star hotel.  The park, with its green lawns and dozens of benches, is a popular lunchtime destination for residents and workers in the neighborhood.  The lion, frog, and goat statues are popular gathering spots for children and their parents.  The park is a popular dog walking location for area residents.  The neighborhood has also been the location of several popular films over the years including In Her Shoes and The Sixth Sense. M. Night Shyamalan has put Philadelphia at the forefront of filmography and is currently filming episodes of “The Servant” (Apple TV) in our community.

The beauty of the park is due largely to the efforts of Friends of Rittenhouse Square, a public-private partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. Landscaping, lighting, restoration of fountains and fencing—even the installation and stocking of doggie-bag dispensers—are all projects of the Friends of Rittenhouse Square. During 2013, the 100th anniversary of architect Paul Cret’s redesign of the Square, the Friends of Rittenhouse Square are working to raise record funds for a lighting and preservation initiative. New security cameras have cut down on vandalism, park rangers have helped calm behavior in the Square, and damaged balustrades and stonework are undergoing extensive restoration.

The Rittenhouse Square neighborhood is also home to many cultural institutions, including the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, the Ethical Society, the Philadelphia Art Alliance, the Rosenbach Museum & Library, Plays & Players, and the Wine School of Philadelphia. Delancey Place is a quiet, historical street lined with Civil War-era mansions and the setting for Hollywood movies, located only two blocks south of the square.

The square is home to many works of public art. Among them is a bas-relief bust of J. William White done by R. Tait McKenzie. Billy, the goat was created by Philadelphian Albert Laessle, who also designed the Penguins statue at the Philadelphia Zoo.

Rittenhouse Square hosts dozens of events throughout the year, including some of the city’s most popular happenings. Typically held in the beginning of May, the blockbuster Rittenhouse Square Spring Festival attracts tens of thousands for a celebration of the season complete with food, shopping, live entertainment and more. In the fall, hundreds of artists from around the country “Circle the Square” during the traditional Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show. During the holidays, hundreds pack the park for the official start of the season during the Rittenhouse Square Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting featuring more than 5,000 brilliant holiday lights. Held year round on Saturdays from 10:00am – 2:00pm, the farmer’s market of Rittenhouse Square sells locally grown food from farmers across the region. Farm to City organizes the event which crowds Walnut Street with market vendors on 18th and 19th Streets.