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

boathouse row pic

Fairmount Park Conservancy Open Community Workday

March 18th at 9:00am
1 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Join Fairmount Park Conservancy for a volunteer workday in East Fairmount Park on Tuesday, March 18th from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Volunteers will be divided into two groups: Group A - The area around Boathouse Row Group B - The steps toward Lemon Hill Mansion This volunteer event is open to people of all abilities. All tools and materials for the workday will be provided, including gloves. Volunteers will be able to select their project, including: Removing invasive species Trash pick-up Raking leaves MEET-UP LOCATION: 1 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia, PA 19130 You will see our green tent across from Lloyd Hall Recreation Center

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centennial lake picture

Live Stakes Community Planting at Centennial Lake

March 20th at 10:00am
Centennial Lake, Philadelphia, PA 19131

Join Fairmount Park Conservancy for a community volunteer workday at The Centennial Lake on Thursday, March 20th from 10 AM - 12 PM. We need your help planting native trees & shrubs. If you are interested in learning a restoration planting technique called live staking, please join us. Your volunteer effort provides benefits to the wildlife around the Lake. This volunteer event is open to all ages and people of all abilities. Anyone interested is welcome to participate. Volunteers will be able to select their project, including: Trash cleanup as needed Planting & watering Woody cleanup along the Lake edge Centennial Lake is part of Fairmount Park’s Centennial District, the 236 acres where ten million people celebrated the nation’s hundredth anniversary in 1876.

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haddintong woods pic

Earth Month Community Planting at East Haddington Woods

April 10th at 1:00pm
6525 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA 19139

Please join Fairmount Park Conservancy staff for a seasonal planting event at Haddington Woods located in Cobbs Creek Park. This community volunteer event is open to all ages but requires parental supervision for minors. Please note: There is a 10-minute hike on uneven terrain to reach the working site. Volunteers will be able to work on the following: Tree planting & watering Removing invasive species Trash cleanup

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