Former City Planner Edmund Bacon Dies
By KYW's Sonia Rincon
Edmund Bacon directed the Philadelphia city planning commission in the 1950s and 60s, and was the mastermind behind the revival of Independence mall, Society Hill, Penn Center and Market East among many other projects years later.
He designed the LOVE park and just three years ago at age 92 skateboarded in it as a protest against the city's ban.
Governor Ed Rendell says a lot of people may not realize how much Bacon accomplished.
"In his latter years he became known as a little bit of a gadfly. But he was such a renowned city planner that he was on the cover of Time magazine. His design for the new Philadelphia in the late 50's was breathtaking and really precedent shattering."
Bacon died of natural causes at his home in Rittenhouse Square, according to his family, which includes his son actor Kevin Bacon.
Edmund Bacon was 95.
yes, in fact, the mystery head is a study of edmund bacon, who i was lucky enough to meet, at his home, two days short of two years ago. i knew i was quite likely working against the clock to hope to have the head completed before he died, and in fact a couple friends will undoubtedly still have e-mails from me in their inboxes, from yesterday or the day before, where i mention just that.
i was lucky to have met him and i will continue work on the head while thinking kindly of him. he had some fascinating hobbies and there are ways to learn more about him. he shaped this city that i love so much.