FAIRMOUNT PARK CONSERVANCY

THE FAIRMOUNT PARK CONSERVANCY LEADS LARGE-SCALE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO PHILADELPHIA PARKLANDS, FROM THE PLANNING STAGE THROUGH CONSTRUCTION. IN 2023, PROJECTS INCLUDED ADVANCING THE FDR PARK PLAN, TWO CAPITAL PROJECTS IN COBBS CREEK PARK, CONTINUED PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION IN WEST FAIRMOUNT PARK, AND ONGOING WORK ACROSS THE NATURAL LANDS WITHIN THE PARK SYSTEM. THE FDR PARK PLAN IS A ONCE-IN-A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY TO STABILIZE AND REIMAGINE A HISTORIC OLMSTED PARK TO SERVE 21ST CENTURY PHILADELPHIANS. GUIDED BY A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PLAN, THE CONSERVANCY BEGAN IMPLEMENTATION IN 2021, AND IN 2023 MADE GREAT STRIDES SUCH AS THE COMPLETION AND PUBLIC OPENING OF THE ANNA C. VERNA PLAYGROUND, AND CONSTRUCTION OF A 33-ACRE TIDAL WETLAND THAT INCLUDED THE ADDITION OF 7,000 TREES AND 1,700 BUSHES AND SHRUBS. THE CONSERVANCY ALSO CONTINUED TO BRING IMPROVEMENTS TO WEST FAIRMOUNT PARK, INCLUDING THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE HISTORIC OHIO HOUSE WHICH IS NOW THE CENTER FOR PARKS AND THE CONSERVANCY'S HEADQUARTERS. THE CONSERVANCY ALSO CELEBRATED THE COMPLETION OF YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION AND ENHANCEMENTS TO THE WEST FAIRMOUNT PARK TROLLEY TRAILS, AND LAUNCHED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH TO REIMAGINE THE LANDSCAPE AROUND JOHN WELSH MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN AS A WELL-PROGRAMMED CIVIC SPACE SERVING THE PARK'S CENTENNIAL DISTRICT AND ADJOINING PARKSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD. IN COBBS CREEK PARK, THE CONSERVANCY COMPLETED A $1.1 MILLION RENOVATION OF THE COBBS CREEK COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER AND EMBARKED ON A MULTI-YEAR TRANSFORMATION OF THE JOHNNY SAMPLE RECREATION CENTER. IN 2023, THE CONSERVANCY'S NATURAL LANDS TEAM LED MAINTENANCE AND STEWARDSHIP ACROSS NEARLY 20 SITES, INCLUDING MEADOWS, FORESTS, WETLANDS AND RIPARIAN AREAS IN THE PHILADELPHIA PARK SYSTEM. THE TEAM PLANTED NEARLY 400 TREES ALONG THE BOXERS' TRAIL IN EAST FAIRMOUNT PARK, AND 300 TREES AND SHRUBS AT THE HORTICULTURAL CENTER IN WEST FAIRMOUNT PARK. THE TEAM ALSO WORKED TO CONTROL INVASIVE SPECIES ON NATURAL LANDS, SUCCESSFULLY RESCUING MORE THAN 10,000 TREES AND SHRUBS FROM SUFFOCATING VINES.IN 2023 THE CONSERVANCY ALSO LED THE HIGH-PROFILE RENOVATION OF THE ICONIC BOATHOUSE ROW LIGHTS IN EAST FAIRMOUNT PARK, REPLACING THE AGING SYSTEM WITH MODERN AND DURABLE TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL CONTINUE THE CITY'S DECADES-LONG TRADITION OF ILLUMINATING THIS HISTORIC HUB FOR RECREATION ALONG THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER.

FAIRMOUNT PARK CONSERVANCY ALSO LEADS THE PRESERVATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF HISTORIC RESOURCES IN PHILADELPHIA'S FAIRMOUNT PARK, INCLUDING NUMEROUS PROPERTIES DESIGNATED TO THE CONSERVANCY'S CARE. THE CONSERVANCY'S AWARD-WINNING CONSERVATION TEAM COMPLETED HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROJECTS AT HISTORIC SITES IN 2023, INCLUDING OHIO HOUSE IN WEST FAIRMOUNT PARK AND STRAWBERRY MANSION IN EAST FAIRMOUNT PARK.