PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The LOVE Park Welcome Center has been empty for nearly a decade, after it was refurbished during a makeover. Philadelphia parks officials believe that’s about to change.
The mid-century landmark — nicknamed the “flying saucer” for its round glass roof — never really got off the ground after the LOVE Park renovation. The vision had been for a restaurant there, but the pandemic put the kibosh on the first attempt. When the city tried to find a tenant again in 2023, it got no bids.
However, Parks and Recreation Business Development Director Katie Burns Kays said a new approach — a more general request for expressions of interest issued last summer — got promising results.
“One of the biggest themes that we really saw was a welcoming, everyday space and a place where people can really gather,” she said. “Previously, it was more of a high-concept, capital-heavy restaurant model, and this really confirmed interest in a lighter, more adaptable approach that will be the right direction for the site.”
About 30 businesses and nonprofits proposed the kind of casual meeting place often known as a “third space” — coffee shops, light food, maybe a hybrid with a beer garden to keep the building active in the evening.
“We also saw a lot of respondents emphasize community impact, including fair-chance hiring, ethical sources, partnerships with nonprofits and programming that reflects Philadelphia’s cultural communities,” she added.
The city issued a request for proposals and expects to select a vendor by April, with work on the site starting in May. Interested parties must submit a proposal by March 18.