FreePlay on the Parkway

Located in the heart of the Parkway Museums District, between 21st and 22nd Streets on the south side of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, FreePlay on The Parkway is a new kind of play space. The park features Imagination Playground™ blocks (soft building pieces kids combine to make structures) sponsored by Sprout; a huge octagonal sandbox (the only public eight-sided sandbox in the city); and a Henge™ cast-concrete Ping Pong table (paddles and balls provided). Bistro-style seating is also featured for parents, visitors, and anyone in search of a place to relax.
 
FreePlay on The Parkway is inspired by a concept developed by Dutch architect Aldo van Eyck, who designed hundreds of play spaces based on the idea that unstructured play is a critical component of childhood development. The Imagination Blocks, Ping Pong, and sandbox all work together to promote skills children need as they grow into adulthood: sharing and cooperation, problem solving, communication, and physical dexterity. FreePlay on The Parkway is designed to encourage creativity, movement, imaginative interaction, and community.
 
FreePlay will be staffed from 10AM-6PM Tuesday-Friday and 9AM-5PM Saturday.