Philadelphia has a total parkland—including city parks, squares, playgrounds, athletic fields, recreation centers and golf courses, plus state and federal parks—that amounts to 11,211 acres (45.37 km2).[1] The Fairmount Park system historically encompassed 63 park areas prior to 2010,[2] including six city-owned public golf courses, along with the landscaped areas of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Roosevelt Boulevard and the Southern Boulevard Parkway, two farms and the Manayunk Canal.[3] Those 63 historic park areas have been included among 378 separate facilities which in turn contain the 7 large watershed parks (Fairmount and FDR Parks, plus the Wissahickon, Pennypack, Cobbs, Tacony and Poquessing Creek parks), 143 neighborhood parks and squares, 156 recreation centers and playgrounds, various playing fields, courts, rinks and swimming pools, 40 community gardens and orchards, as well as the six aforementioned golf courses.[4] All facilities are administered by the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation department since a merger of the Fairmount Park Commission and the Department of Recreation in 2010.[5] The new Parks & Recreation department also administers six older adult centers, three environmental education centers, 40 historic sites and 25 KEYSPOT computer labs.[4][6]
In terms of total park area to population, Philadelphia is ranked ninth among the most densely populated cities in the United States with 7.2 park acres per 1000 residents, and fourth among the same cities in total acres of parkland, behind New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago.[1] Philadelphia has reserved 13.5% of its city acreage for parkland, which is the eighth highest percentage among the most densely populated cities.[1]
List of parks
edit† Approximate acres based on OpenStreetMap estimates
‡ Philadelphia acres only—majority of the wildlife refuge is located in Delaware County
Gallery
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John Heinz NWR at Tinicum
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Eakins Oval
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Pastorius Park
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Washington Monument
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Tookany Creek
References
edit- ^ a b c "2014 City Park Facts" (PDF). tpl.org. The Trust for Public Land. pp. 9–10. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
- ^ "Welcome to Fairmount Park - Philadelphia's Park System". fairmountpark.org. Philadelphia Parks and Recreation. n.d. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ "63 Neighborhood and Regional Parks". fairmountpark.org. Philadelphia Parks and Recreation. n.d. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
- ^ a b "Pathport to Philadelphia Parks & Recreation" (PDF). phila.gov. The City of Philadelphia. December 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 1, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
- ^ "Department History". phila.gov. The City of Philadelphia. n.d. Archived from the original on December 29, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
the Fairmount Park Commission, created in 1867, and the Philadelphia Department of Recreation, created in 1951...officially merged on July 1, 2010.
- ^ KEYSPOT - About us - What is KEYSPOT?
- ^ a b c d e f "The City of Philadelphia, Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan" (PDF). dcnr.state.pa.us. The City of Philadelphia. 2012. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 19, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
The City contains approximately 6,781 acres of watershed parks including East/West Fairmount Parks (2052 ac.), Wissahickon Valley Park (2042 ac.), Pennypack Creek Park (1343 ac.), Cobbs Creek Park (851 ac.), Tacony Creek Park (304 ac.), and Poquessing Creek Park (189 ac.)
- ^ "Multi-Sport, Entertainment and Youth Development Center, and FDR Park Revitalization, Alternatives Analysis" (PDF). phila.gov. Project 250 for the City of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Commission. November 2014. p. 48. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 1, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Park covers some 348 acres
- ^ "Benjamin Rush State Park - History". dcnr.state.pa.us. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. n.d. Archived from the original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
(History) Benjamin Rush State Park was created in 1975 on 275 acres no longer needed by the hospital.
- ^ History of Morris Park
- ^ John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge History
- ^ Morris Arboretum
- ^ Hunting Park
- ^ Ryerss Museum & Library, Burholme Park
- ^ Awbury Arboretum
- ^ Independence National Historical Park - Business Plan
- ^ Bartram’s Garden
- ^ Wissinoming Park
- ^ Penn Park
- ^ Fisher Park, Olney’s Safe Haven
- ^ Explore Glen Foerd - The Grounds
- ^ Pastorius Park
- ^ Clark Park
- ^ Malcolm X Park
- ^ Kingsessing Park
- ^ Penn Treaty Museum - Penn Treaty Park
- ^ The Oval (Eakins)
- ^ Franklin's Paine Skatepark
- ^ Drexel Park
- ^ Cira Green, Blue roof & green roof technologies
- ^ Girard Park
- ^ Dickinson Square Park
- ^ Jefferson Square Park History
- ^ Starr Garden
External links
editMedia related to Parks in Philadelphia at Wikimedia Commons