John F. Kennedy Plaza. You probably know it as Love Park. It’s that granite-heavy patch of Philadelphia where tourists wait in a soul-crushing line just to snap a photo with a Robert Indiana sculpture. But look closer at that weird, circular building perched on the edge like a grounded UFO. That’s the Love Park Visitor Center, officially known as the Fairmount Park Welcome Center, and honestly, its history is way more interesting than a selfie with a piece of pop art.
It’s a saucer. A "flying saucer" building designed in 1960. While most of the city was leaning into red-brick colonial vibes or brutalist concrete blocks, architect Roy Larson went full "Jetsons." It was bold. It was space-age. It was also, for a very long time, a bit of a mess.
People walk past it every day without realizing they are looking at a survivor. This building has dodged the wrecking ball more times than a Philly sports fan has complained about a referee. When the city decided to renovate Love Park in 2016, a $26 million project that stripped away the legendary "skateable" ledges and replaced them with flat, accessible greenery, the fate of the saucer was up in the air. Many thought it should go. They were wrong.
The Architecture of the Love Park Visitor Center: Why the Saucer Stayed
Architecture in Philly is usually about the "Old City" aesthetic or the towering glass of Comcast Center. The Love Park Visitor Center occupies a middle ground that critics call Mid-Century Modernism, but locals just call "that round thing."
Roy Larson, of the firm Harbeson, Hough, Livingston & Larson, didn’t just wake up and decide to build a spaceship. The circular design was functional. It was meant to provide a 360-degree view of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Think about it. From that one spot, you can look down the spine of the city toward the Art Museum or turn around and see the massive clock face of City Hall.
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The building features a cantilevered roof. That’s a fancy way of saying the roof sticks out far beyond the walls without needing extra pillars to hold it up. It creates a "floating" effect. When the sun hits the glass at the right angle in late October, the whole structure looks like it’s about to lift off.
During the massive 2018 reopening of the park, the visitor center got a glow-up. They replaced the old, dingy panels with high-transparency glass. They fixed the roof. But they kept the shape. Why? Because you can’t replicate that kind of 1960s optimism. It represents an era when Philadelphia was trying to prove it was a "City of the Future," even as it struggled with the decline of its industrial core.
It’s Not Just a Place for Maps
If you walk inside today, you aren't just getting a brochure for the Liberty Bell. The Love Park Visitor Center has transitioned into something more like a civic hub.
For a while, it housed a rotating series of pop-up shops. You could find local makers selling "Philly vs. Everybody" shirts or handmade jewelry. This is a big deal. Usually, visitor centers are sterile places where you buy an overpriced magnet and leave. By putting local vendors inside a historic landmark, the city actually managed to make the space feel alive.
The park itself is different now. The skaters are mostly gone, pushed out by the flat granite and increased security, which is a sore spot for anyone who grew up watching Love Story or DC Shoes videos. But the visitor center remains the anchor. It’s the gatekeeper.
The Controversy of the Redesign
We have to talk about the granite. Philadelphians love to argue. When the new Love Park layout was revealed, people lost their minds. "It’s too flat!" "Where are the trees?" "It looks like a landing strip!"
The Love Park Visitor Center was caught in the crossfire. Some argued the $4.5 million spent specifically on the building's renovation was a waste of taxpayer money. They wanted more grass. Others argued that without the saucer, JFK Plaza loses its identity. It becomes just another park.
The renovation was led by Saint-Gobain and SageGlass. They used "smart glass" that tints automatically based on the sun's intensity. This isn't just for show; it keeps the building cool without needing a massive, loud HVAC system that would ruin the vibe of the park. It’s a marriage of 1960s bones and 2020s tech.
What You Should Actually Do There
Don't just stand in the LOVE sign line. That’s rookie stuff.
- Check the glass. Go inside the visitor center and look at how the tint changes. If it’s a bright July afternoon, the glass will be deep blue. It’s a weirdly calming experience in the middle of a chaotic city.
- Look for the "Milkshake" truck. Usually, there’s a rotating cast of food trucks parked right next to the saucer. Philly’s food scene is more than just cheesesteaks. Get the tacos or the vegan jerk chicken.
- The Parkway View. Stand at the north side of the building. This is the best unblocked view of the "Museum Mile." You can see the flags of the world lining the Parkway all the way to the "Rocky Steps."
- The Night Glow. The building is lit from within at night. It looks exactly like what people in 1960 thought 2026 would look like.
The Love Park Visitor Center is a testament to the fact that "weird" is worth saving. In a world where every city is starting to look the same—filled with the same glass boxes and the same luxury apartments—the saucer is a reminder that Philadelphia has always been a little eccentric. It’s a mid-century relic that somehow fits perfectly into a modern landscape.
It isn't perfect. The park can feel a bit barren in the dead of winter when the fountains are off and the wind whips off the Schuylkill River. But the visitor center stays warm. It stays open. It remains a weird, wonderful piece of the Philly puzzle.
Logistics and Tips for Your Visit
The center is located at 16th Street and JFK Boulevard. It’s a two-minute walk from Suburban Station. If you’re taking the SEPTA Broad Street Line or Market-Frankford Line, get off at City Hall.
Most people don't realize the center has public restrooms. In Center City, finding a clean bathroom is like finding a parking spot in South Philly—nearly impossible. This alone makes the building a literal lifesaver for tourists.
The hours can be a bit wonky depending on the season. Generally, it’s open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If there’s a Christmas Village happening (which takes over the park every November and December), the whole area gets incredibly crowded. During the holidays, the visitor center serves as a beacon in a sea of wooden huts selling bratwurst and ornaments.
Actionable Steps for Your Philadelphia Trip
- Skip the Peak Hours: If you want that photo with the LOVE statue and a quiet moment in the visitor center, arrive before 9:30 AM. By noon, the line is thirty people deep.
- Use the Indego Bike Station: There is a bike-share station right at the park. Grab a bike and ride from the visitor center all the way down the Parkway to the Art Museum. It’s the best way to see the city's scale.
- Check for Events: Love Park hosts "Lunchtime Live" and various fitness classes. Check the official Philadelphia Parks & Recreation calendar before you go; you might catch a free concert right under the shadow of the saucer.
- Download the "Philly PHLASH" App: The purple tourist bus stops right near the center. It’s the cheapest way to hop between the visitor center, the Zoo, and the Eastern State Penitentiary without dealing with Uber surges.
The Love Park Visitor Center is more than a place to ask for directions. It is a piece of architectural history that survived the "urban renewal" era, the skateboarding era, and a massive modern redesign. It’s a survivor. Just like Philly.