Saint-Gobain helps with LOVE Park redo

The restoration of Philadelphia’s LOVE Park has received a major funding boost courtesy of a Malvern company with international roots. 

Saint-Gobain has committed $700,000 in cash and materials over five years for the restoration of the flying saucer, officially known as  the LOVE Park welcome center.  John Crowe, president of Saint-Gobais and CertainTeed, said the company wants to involve youth in rebuilding the facility.

“We’re bringing LOVE Park into a new era,” he said at a ceremony Tuesday. “In many ways, it’s easy to write a check. But Saint-Gobain doesn’t give a donation and move on. We’re a hands-on corporate partner committed to forming meaningful relationships and giving back to the communities that we operate in.”

City Managing Director Mike Di Berardinis said refurbishment of LOVE Park is important to the city and its residents.

“Having LOVE Park as a beautiful feature of the Parkway is significant,” he said. “Now we’re not managing decline, we’re managing progress and growth.”

When the $20 million reconstruction work is finished, the park is expected to open in the spring.

With its iconic LOVE sculpture, temporarily off site during the reconstruction, the park is within a 10-minute walk for some 60,000 Philadelphians.