If you are blessed without debilitating pollen allergies, springtime has some of the best weather that Mother Nature can offer. Few things boost serotonin like gentle breezes and warm sunlight. These simple and natural pleasures are often overlooked in the intensity of college routine. One would imagine that a campus circumscribed by looming infrastructure and crisscrossed by stretches of concrete would not offer too many green spaces to soak up the sun, but if you know where to look, Philadelphia has a variety of places where visitors can forget about city life for an afternoon and truly appreciate the gift of warm weather.
The Cira Green is the place that most people would recommend if you are seeking out somewhere to bask in the sunshine, and people sing its praises for good reason. The Cira Green is a publicly accessible rooftop park only a shout away from most Drexel facilities. It is nestled between two skyscrapers, but the sun still shines on every square inch of the park. There is no shortage of green spaces to lounge or socialize with a few cabanas and assorted seating to relax in. Additionally, the park is equipped with other amenities for visitors to enjoy like a burger joint, a dog park and a big-screen TV attached to one of the connected buildings. Like many public parks, Cira Green stays lively with a number of organized events held throughout the week. I love Cira Green because it encapsulates the feeling of community that is often an afterthought in large-scale urban areas like Philadelphia.
If you desire a more intimate places, one location that I usually find myself is the small triangular garden next to the Pearlstein Gallery. The park is wedged between two sidestreets, so the sound of traffic or clamoring passersby is relatively minimized. Although it is only a street’s width from the Summit, the park fortunately avoids the encompassing shadows cast by the towering building. Still, the lawn is dotted with a few trees for those who prefer shade. From my own experiences, I have always found this place to be relatively empty, never having to share the space with more than two people. Granted, this article will, if anything, bring more activity to this spot that I take pride in for its lack of visitors, but I trust that the loyal readers of this newspaper will not let the secret of my beloved park space reach the mainstream.
I hope that this article was able to enlighten you all on my personal favorite places to enjoy everything that spring has to offer. Do not let the sometimes suffocating modern architecture of Drexel campus fool you; Philly is speckled with a number of well-maintained community parks that allow for much-needed urban escapism during the warmer seasons. Although there is always a patch of grass available along Lancaster Walk, I implore you all to seek out outdoor spaces around campus that you can claim as your own hidden gem.