The "Galaxyscape Zone" public art installation in Highline Park.

If you look up and around the eastern edge of Drexel University’s University City Campus, you’ll see some new art and public spaces just waiting to be discovered.

There’s Mural Row, a tiny alleyway of 12 murals hiding just off one of Philadelphia’s busiest streets. It might be the thinnest public art venue you’ve ever visited.

A block north, hidden under a train trellis, lies an urban park with greenery, public seating and two different dog parks.

And in between those two locations is a light-up mural unlike anything else on campus.

It’s all part of the “Art at the Yards” public art and green space that opened earlier this month in Schuylkill Yards. Through the vision brought forth by Brandywine Realty Trust in partnership with Drexel over the last decade, these spaces in the 14 acres between the University City Campus and the nearby 30th Street Station are developing into a destination for professional, residential, retail, hospitality and cultural offices and venues, as well as public spaces.

Here’s what opened earlier this month:

The JFK Boulevard entrance to Mural Row.

“Best Philly” Mural Row

Have you heard of “West Philly is the Best Philly” or “West is best?”

Those local sayings inspired “Best Philly” on Mural Row, a new “blink and you miss it” gem of 12 mini-murals in an alleyway between Market Street and JFK Boulevard. Brandywine partnered with Mural Arts Philadelphia and Drexel University for the series, which is painted on the side of Drexel’s 3101 Market St. building and curated by StreetsDept founder and Mural Arts project manager Conrad Benner.

The 12 murals in “Best Philly” depict work and life in the area, as interpreted by six local artists — and you can learn more about the projects and the artists through this Mural Arts site.

The "Galaxyscape Zone" sculpture as seen from a public seating patio among the landscaping of Highline Park.

Highline Park

Across the street of JFK Boulevard, Brandywine, Mural Arts Philadelphia and Drexel also partnered on Highline Park, a 7,500-square-foot space with public seating, landscaping, a public art installation and a dog park. Located just outside Brandywine’s new 28-story West Tower at 3025 JFK Blvd., the park connects people in the neighborhood with “Best Philly” and another mural (more information on that below) while providing a space to enjoy the outdoors. Located under elevated train tracks, Highline Park also can be discovered as an oasis in an unexpected place. It’s the second green space to open in Schuylkill Yards: the first, Drexel Square, is located nearby at 30th and Market streets.

Highline Park also features an unmissable piece of public art: specifically, “Galaxyscape Zone,” which was created by West Philadelphia artist Anthony Bayne, Sr. outside his garage on Chestnut Street before Brandywine chose the sculpture as the focal point of its latest greenspace.

The "Schuylkill Falls" installation on JFK Boulevard.

“Schuylkill Falls”

Situated in between Highland Park and Mural Row is “Schuylkill Falls,” a 2025 mural from local artist David Guinn, incorporates interactive lighting throughout the full length of the piece of art. Fun fact: walking or running by the installation will trigger changes in the shades and colors of this interactive work. Plus, the colors and designs are inspired by the nearby Fairmount Dam, located on the Schuylkill River just northeast of campus, as well as the landscape architecture of the Highland Park across the street.