Kenney's LOVE Park

Between bringing drag queens to the Mummers Parade, massive legislation that could make Philadelphia the nation's most LGBT friendly city, and his attempt to minimize the penalty for marijuana possession, it might seem that Councilman Jim Kenney couldn't get any cooler.

You'd be wrong.

This deserves recognition.

With Councilman Clarke's wild pitch for seven restaurants within a newly landscaped LOVE park, and every rational Philadelphian's anxiety over a Sbarro on the park, or worse, seven For Rent signs, Councilman Kenney has recognized the park's historic place in the annals of skater lore.

I'll admit, I was never a skater despite growing up in the 80s and 90s. With my flannels and Nash board, I was a poser at best. But I'm very familiar with the history behind Paine's Park, and the long road and blind optimism that led to its reality. Despite LOVE Park's reputation amongst skaters, Paine's Park deserves every ounce of that reputation and then some.

Still, just a few short years after Ed Bacon skated across LOVE Park it deserves its recognition. Kenney's pitch to reserve a portion of the park for skate boards might be far fetched, but considering the reverence for the space amongst skaters it's a unique proposal, much more innovative that an inward facing food court.