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

Love Your Park Fall Weekend 2026

November 13th at 12:00am
Philadelphia Parks

This fall, show your favorite neighborhood park some love! In partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and Fairmount Park Conservancy, Park Friends Groups across Philadelphia will be hosting volunteer events November 13 - 15 for Love Your Park Fall Weekend 2026.

Learn More
haddington

Second Saturday at Haddington Woods

December 12th at 10:00am
Haddington Woods

Help Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and our volunteer forest stewards maintain Haddington Woods! During this workday, we will be clearing invasive vines and plants within an "exclosure", or a fenced-off area that protects new trees from invasive plans or animals that may harm it. Come learn from those who take care of the area, prevent vines from smothering our younger trees, and maintain the health of our urban forests.

Learn More
fairmount park boxer trail philadelphia

Second Saturday at Boxer's Trail

January 9th at 10:00am
Boxer's Trail- East Fairmount Park

Help Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and our volunteer forest stewards take care of Boxer's Trail in East Fairmount Park. During this workday, we will be clearing invasive vines and plants along the trail. Come learn from those who take care of the area, prevent vines from smothering our younger trees, and maintain the health of our urban forests. We will be meeting at Mount Pleasant Mansion to start the workday.

Learn More