The Rail Park
Inaugrual Activation from June 24 - December 30, 2023
The Rail Park in Philadelphia was selected as the site for the launch of The Thread for its central and accessible location, and its commitment to inclusive programming that celebrates the city’s unique art & culture, nature, and health & wellness opportunities. With its rich history as a connection point for passengers in and out of Philly, this transformative space invites us to bring grief out of the private realm and into a shared public environment where it is normalized. This unique park is an elevated space, representing a beacon that offers hope, renewal and connection.
The Rail Park Experience
Friends and families were welcomed, and individuals who wanted to experience the phone on their own. In addition to using the phone to call a loved one, we invited visitors to explore the following offerings to carry the thread of the experience forward:
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Choose a ribbon & find a place to tie it on the booth or on the gate along the Rail Park walkway. This evolving memorial will create a beautiful web of threads to represent how we are not alone in our grief.
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Notice your feet on the ground.
Feel the sensations of your breath, slowly breathing in through your nose into your belly. Release the exhale slowly. Repeat. -
The Thread.
Enter with love.
Come hold grief here.
Begin with breath.
Listen within.
Imagine the sound of their voice.
Let your words, songs, tears, laughter, stories and silence flow.
Feel the spirit; Cherish the past.
It takes courage to know hurt, to live with death.
In memorial, somewhere under sweet vivid sky,
You are free to mourn, grow together, say goodbye.
Call our voicemail line:
(267) 314-7161
