John F. Collins Park

A little oasis in the busy city. With Swedish coffee around the corner.

After walking and touring we came to this gem of a park in the middle of Philadelphia PA.
John F Collins Park what a beautiful retreat in the middle of all the hustle and bustle and such a great story about the man behind it all. He has done some great things for that city and its people included rehabilitating prisoners by teaching them to landscape, grow plants and garden. It's a place to get some zen, with the gorgeous trees and waterfall while the cute finches are flying around and then watching them splash in the water.

I’m honestly not sure where to begin. Magical. Professional. The Olivia Pope of event organizing. Lol. I can’t say enough good things about Jhona Ireland, the Event Sales Manager at Center City District (CCD). As the chair of one the largest sections within the American Sociological Association (ASA) (a non-profit), I had a minimal budget for organizing a joint reception with another Section. I scoured the city for something that would fit our needs and satisfy the ASA’s offsite reception requirements (e.g, contract review, access, contingency plans, etc.). It was a TALL order with lots of “almost possibilities” that didn’t pan out.

By the time I connected with Jhona, I was at my wits end. To say that her professionalism, hard work, and resourcefulness turned the whole experience around for me—is an understatement. I felt like I had the partner I desperately needed to pull this off and put it together. Jhona used her deep networks and ability to think outside the box and her dogged determination to overcome roadblocks largely driven by our limited budget. I took comfort in her ability to work with me and my group to find solutions to problems that arose, to answer emails in a timely manner, and to efficiently process paperwork—all while doing so long-distance and virtually. My organizers and I were told that we hosted the best reception at the conference not only because the space itself was so beautiful and magical, but also because it was arranged with such elegance and thoughtfulness (the linens, flowers on the tables, lighting, and bartender and dessert stations) —thank you Aaron Walters, CCD’s Manager of Event Logistics, who was also incredible to work with! Thank you LaShon Green for your "A Sweet Surprise" dessert station! People raved about the treats!

I didn’t think Jhona could be any more amazing until meeting her in person! She was gracious and easy to work with on the ground. I had to do little more than show up not only because the work we put in beforehand made that possible, but also because Jhona and Aaron made it possible! Don’t think twice about booking an event with CCD and working with this incredible team! It’ll be one of the best decisions you would have made as you organize your special event.

We had a welcome reception for 80 people in July and the space is magical. Even with the warm weather, this gem of a space in the middle of downtown makes you feel like you have stepped into a beautiful garden perfect for an event. Thank you to Johna and her team because you made our vision a reality.

Great little park with a cool backstory about John F. Collins's life and work. The seating is ample and it's a nice shady spot to seek refuge during the summer heat.

As with many areas in Center City, there may be pools of urine and people passed out on the benches but they generally don't cause major issues, just watch where you step. Regardless, it's a very nice little secluded gem I never noticed despite walking almost directly past it many times.

"Pocket Parks" like this are a great addition to Philly, adding something new to see around every corner in this already interesting and historic city.

This place is a teeny gem in the city. We serendipitously spotted it while looking for wedding ceremony venues. It was perfect for an intimate gathering of our Fellowship, and went well with our Lord of the Rings theme. Their event coordinator was great and in constant communication with us. With so many hotels nearby, it definitely is convenient. Hope to continue taking yearly photos there to commemorate our marriage.

If you're looking for an interesting place to visit on the City weekend, this is it.