Fairmount Park and the Philadelphia Museum of Art are working together to create a landscaped parking facility, rooftop sculpture garden, relocated surface parking, and a variety of other new public amenities.
Landscaped Parking Facility and Rooftop Sculpture Garden
The Museum is planning to build a new underground parking facility covered by a rooftop sculpture garden in a section of East Fairmount Park between the Azalea Garden and the West Entrance to the Museum.
This plan is part of the Museum's overall master plan to modernize and expand their facilities over the next ten years and beyond. The Museum is a vital part of the City's cultural and economic life, drawing nearly one million visitors annually from all over the world. The Museum's 78-year-old facilities are in need of major repair and modernization. In addition, the existing amenities surrounding the Museum no longer meet the needs of its growing audience. Extending opportunities for the display of sculpture in the surrounding park and increasing visitor parking capacity are critical to the Museum's future success.
The Museum received final design approvals for the landscaped garage and sculpture garden from the Fairmount Park Commission, Philadelphia Art Commission, and the Philadelphia Historic Commission. The Museum began construction in late 2006, with completion envisioned for 2008.
A few facts about the landscaped parking facility and rooftop sculpture garden include:
- The Museum will pay the full cost of design and construction of the garage and will be responsible for all operating costs. The City of Philadelphia is not providing any funding for this project.
- The Museum will manage and operate the new parking facility.
- The garage will accommodate approximately 400–440 cars.
- The parking facility is intended primarily to serve Museum visitors.
- The Museum wants the visitor's experience to be as affordable as possible. While the parking rates have not yet been set, the Museum plans to set the rates at a reasonable level that will encourage maximum use of the facility.
- The plans include security lighting and surveillance to help provide a safe environment for those using both the parking facility and rooftop sculpture garden.
Relocated Surface Parking
The Museum's parking garage and sculpture garden will be built upon the existing Fairmount Avenue surface parking lot that now accommodates 84 vehicles and extends from the Italian Fountain to Kelly Drive parallel to the Azalea Garden.
The parking spaces in this lot are designated by contract for exclusive use by the newly opened Water Works Restaurant and Lounge from 11:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m., seven days a week. In order to relocate these spaces, the Park and the Museum will provide the spaces listed below:
- 18 existing spaces along the driveway leading to the restaurant
- 38 marked spaces around the Italian Fountain, which will be restriped
- 10 spaces in the currently marked Italian Fountain bus drop-off zone (5:00–11:00 p.m.)
- 14 spaces in the Museum's parking garage (5:00–11:00 p.m.)
(Unless otherwise noted, the above spaces will be reserved for restaurant use from 11:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m., seven days a week).
Additionally, a new 27-car parking area for public use will be built between Waterworks Drive and the Schuylkill River. This lot will be available to the public 24 hours a day and will contain environmental features such as pervious paving, perforated curbing, and an adjacent rain garden to manage stormwater runoff. The Museum will fund the design and construction of the new 27-car parking area and the restriping of the Italian Fountain parking. The new parking area will be constructed prior to, or concurrent with, the construction of the parking garage.
