You may have never even heard of Sears St., a narrow street that runs with numerous stops and starts between Wharton and Reed Streets. But on the 700 block of this street you may have never even heard of, you would discover one of the most pleasant and surprising places in South Philadelphia: Paolone Park.

Medina St. runs for less than one block, beginning at 7th St. and flowing into Sears St. before it can even make it to 8th. The triangle that’s formed by Sears and Medina Sts. is populated both by homes and a wonderful little green space.

As you can see on the map

At one time, homes were to be found on this parcel. Later, it was a dumping ground, according to this article from the Inquirer. As of the early 1980’s, this dumping ground became a pocket park thanks to the efforts of former Democratic committeeman Louis P. Paolone Sr. And what a wonderful oasis it is in a part of South Philadelphia that’s best known for its cheesesteaks. Take a look:

View of the park looking east

Homes peeking through the trees

Now looking west

There's an Isaiah Zagar mural, too!

But don’t take our word for it. Next time you’re in the area, take a stroll through this wonderful little park. But remember, it’s surrounded closely on both sides by people’s homes. And those people take a tremendous amount of pride in their little slice of Philly heaven.

Oh and hey, if you want to get in on Paolone Park, we’ve got some great news. 720 Medina St., a home that faces the park, is currently listed on the market for $239K. But we imagine it won’t last too long.