The pic reminds me of Pennsylvania Avenue in DC. It was just a matter of cleaning up the neighborhood and one of the city's most iconic locations. The Parkway now has a formal landscaped entrance and a better pedestrian connection to Logan Square. It redefines the area as a pedestrian friendly zone. It's a part of a bigger picture and they did a fine job. It's a fair response to the development that is coming this way.
These are basically passive spaces where many people will be passing by everyday. They need no other purpose other than just being.
Philadelphia is a very dense congested city and needs all the people spaces it can get.
Yeah, the missing caps are annoying but I will always hope they see the wisdom the capping of 676, someday.
https://www.facebook.com/cap676/