‘A new urban experience’ — Officials unveil plans for Avenue of the Arts 2.0

The city of Philadelphia on Tuesday unveiled Avenue of the Arts 2.0, a $100 million investment to transform Center City’s Avenue of Arts — from City Hall to Washington Avenue — into a lush, green arts park.  

City leaders joined Avenue of the Arts board members for Tuesday’s announcement. As a release states, the project aims to create a serene and green, arts-inspired attraction in the heart of Center City that creates a more sustainable and livable city for future generations.

The plan envisions a 10-block pedestrian-friendly arts park with landscaping, café seating, sculptures, rotating public art, outdoor performance spaces, and greened medians adorned with public art. Enhanced lighting is planned to accentuate the area. 

“We’ve achieved much as an organization over the last 31 years,” said Avenue of the Arts Executive Director Laura Burkhardt. “Today, the Avenue of the Arts is one of the city’s most dynamic mixed-use corridors with thousands of residents and millions of visitors each year. This initiative will add ‘world-class arts city’ to Philadelphia’s renown as a hub of  history and sports.” 

The plan imagines the Avenue’s sidewalks with clusters of outdoor seating nestled in lush green spaces. The street medians will be in full bloom and changing seasonally, and building fronts will sprout walls of greenery. Anticipated environmental benefits include cleaner air quality, noise reduction, safer street crossings, and better stormwater management, aligning with the mayor’s clean and green initiative. 

Avenue of the Arts Board Chair Dianne Semingson, “the plan will be implemented in a phased approach, block by  block. Phase one, covering the area between Spruce and Pine (the Kimmel Center block), is scheduled to be finished by Spring 2026, in time for significant events such as Philadelphia’s 250th celebration, FIFA’s World Cup finals, and the MLB All-Star Game.” 

Avenue of the Arts board member Carl Dranoff added, “The plan takes our iconic street to the next level, transforming it into a lush boulevard where residents, theatergoers, and visitors from around the world will want to come, stay, and enjoy again and again, because it’s so beautiful and welcoming.”