Our initial intention was to find a swing set, but much to our dismay there was a flock of children taking up our seats. We moved on from the swings to discover that this park is much more than just a playground. Weaving in and out of the benches and vegetation were children of such diverse backgrounds that even Center City can't compete. Couples walked their furry friends alongside homeless men and women begging passersby for anything that they had to offer. We discovered a three-man band practicing in the grass and quickly made ourselves their only audience.
After MC and I decided that this would become the "spot", I did a bit of research. I found that Clark Park has held Shakespearean plays, indie music festivals and weekly farmers' (and flea) markets. It also apparently sits atop a goldmine of American history, as a piece of the 10 acres was once occupied by Satterlee Hospital, one of the larger Union Army hospitals. It is also home to a century old statue of Charles Dickens and "Little Nell", a character from The Old Curiosity Shop.
As it turns out, Clark Park isn't solely an oasis hidden between 43rd and 45th streets, but instead a community whose beauty has been blanketed by the excitement of University City.
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