May 14th, 2020

May 14th is History Day during Love Your Park at Home

lemon hill

Thursday, May 14th is History Day during Love Your Park @ Home! Here are all the things you can learn, share, and do to celebrate history in Philly parks.

5 14 history day lyp at home

LEARN: About 6 Historic Houses in 6 minutes

Join John Sigmund, Fairmount Park Conservancy Historic House Coordinator, and Justina Barrett, Philadelphia Museum of Art Site Manager, in a whirlwind bicycle tour of six historic properties situated in beautiful Fairmount Park. In just one minute per house, learn unique facts about these historic homes!

Watch video

SHARE: Your own historic photos of your Philly park

woodford mansion 1900 2

Woodford Mansion, 1900.

Share your favorite photos of Philadelphia park history! This can be historic photos of your neighborhood park, or a more recent photo of a fun day spent in your favorite secret park spot. #loveyourpark

DO: Enjoy a virtual Park History Happy Hour at 5pm

Grab a beer (or a stein of ye olde meade) and join John John Sigmund, Fairmount Park Historic House Coordinator, and other park historians as they kick back, relax, and spin some of their favorite Philadelphia park tales.

Join the virtual Happy Hour

BONUS: You're invited to a special webinar "Making history: The power of parks during COVID-19"

How will the COVID-19 pandemic shape the future of our urban parks?

On Thursday, May 14 from 12-1pm, join us for a conversation about resilience and the future of civic spaces with three leading park advocates:

Carol Coletta, President and CEO, Memphis River Parks
Maura McCarthy, Executive Director, Fairmount Park Conservancy, Host
Kathryn Ott Lovell, Commissioner, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation

Register for free

BONUS: Enjoy these free coloring pages of the Historic Houses of Fairmount Park!

Bring some color to these beautiful black-and-white sketches of the Historic Houses of Fairmount Park! These coloring pages are available to download for free – you can even draw your own Historic House! Share your creations by tagging us on social media at #loveyourpark. 

Download free coloring pages

Upcoming Love Your Park @ Home Events

Cobbs Creek pic

Cobbs Creek Community Workday

April 14th at 9:00am
280 Cobbs Creek Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19139

Join Fairmount Park Conservancy for a Community Volunteer Workday! Join us on Tuesday, April 14th, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM as we help refresh the gardens at Cobbs Creek Recreation Center with perennial cutbacks, weeding, and mulching. We’ll provide all necessary tools, supplies, and materials for the workday, including gloves. We look forward to working with you!

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montgomery planting pic

Belmont Wetland Community Planting

April 15th at 9:00am
Army Rd & Belmont Mansion Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19131

Join Fairmount Park Conservancy and the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation team for a volunteer planting workday at the Belmont Wetlands in West Fairmount Park on Wednesday, April 15th, from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. This volunteer event is open to all ages and people of all abilities. Anyone interested is welcome to participate. Please use the mid- and low-Belmont Plateau parking lot. Volunteers will be able to select their project, including: * Planting & protecting native trees * Watering trees and shrubs * Trash cleanup as needed

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fdr park golf course

Earth Week Kickoff and Closing!

April 18th at 10:00am
1800 Pattison Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19145

Let's celebrate the beginning (4/18) and end (4/25) of Earth Week by giving back to Nature! You can choose from a variety of activities including trash picking, weeding, mulching and more! Meet new people or bring a friend! Meet us at the WELCOME CENTER at 1800 Pattison Ave, the first building on your right as you enter the park at 15th street. You can call/text 215-479-1954 if you can't find it.

Learn More