PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — After a successful first-ever outdoor Philadelphia Flower Show this past summer, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has decided to return to FDR Park in South Philadelphia in 2022.
This year’s theme, “In Full Bloom,” will take place between June 11 and 19, 2022.
PHS said it has taken feedback from guests, staff and stakeholders into consideration regarding the outdoor location, and it will make improvements for 2022.
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For years, the Pennsylvania Horticultural society has held the show towards the end of winter, inside at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
"The big reason for going back outside again really has to do with COVID, and sort of the unknowns that are still out there, really the uncertainties of not knowing if another variant is going to come," said Sam Lemhaney with the Pennsylvania Horticultural society.
Their show this year was a hit with visitors, vendors and exhibitions, but some neighbors were not happy with the extra cars and lack of parking those bodies brought with them.
"We are definitely working to fix those. I've already had some meetings with the folks down at the Sports Complex, with the Phillies and the Wells Fargo [Center] folks and the folks with the South Philly neighborhoods over there like Packer Park and the Friends of FDR," Lemhaney added.
Friend of FDR Park Co-President and Packer Park Civic Association President Barbara Capozzi said limited parking because of COVID-19 restrictions at the stadiums, and lack of notice about fireworks, presented some issues for the neighborhood.
She added that she is sure these issues will be solved for next year's show, something she said the neighborhood is looking forward to.
"It will be not an easy task, but it will be much smoother and we have longer to plan, so we are all wildly enthusiastic about it," Capozzi added.
"Flowers belong outside. It's as simple as that."
FDR Park is a registered historical district that was designed by the Olmsted Brothers in 1913.