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Top 10 Interesting Facts About Fairmount Park

The Fairmount park was built in 1812, and it is located in Philadelphia. After he claimed it to be part of his Springettsbury manor, William Penn named the park. The park is the largest in Pennsylvania, and it is even said that it is five times bigger than New York City’s Central Park. It is also the largest landscaped urban park in the world, as it sits on 9600 acres of land. Fairmount Park consists of 63 smaller parks that make up the large park system.

The park is comprised of two sections known as the East park and the West park, which are divided by the Schuylkill River. The Philadelphia Parks and Recreation manage the park, a department formed in 2010 to run the various parks that makeup Fairmount Park. Here are ten interesting facts about the Park

1. The Fairmount Park covers ten percent of Philadelphia’s landscape

The 63 parks in Fairmount Park System make up 10 percent of Philadelphia’s landscape. This is a big percentage that was put on the National Register of Historic Places. This means that the park has to be preserved and, in doing so, ensure that it remains part of the landscape since it has a historical value to the region.

2. The Park is known for its large collection of public arts

The park has a large collection of public art. This can be attributed to the efforts made by a non-profit organization called the Association for Public Art which was previously known as Fairmount Park Art Association. The organization was established in 1872 to fit the park with outdoor sculptures, with a notable one being the Florentine line in 1887.

The organization continues to partner with the department tasked with maintaining the park by adding the sculptures to the park.

3. The Park has walking and cycling trails

The park is equipped with trails that visitors can use for cycling or walking. The environment is ideal for reflection as it is quiet and serene. The park has a short trail of 3.8 miles known as the Boxers’ Trail, which runs on the eastern part of Fairmount Park. The trail became popular because boxer Joe Frazier favoured that particular trail.

Additionally, nature enthusiasts who want a challenge and a longer adventure can take the Trolley Trail, which is 4.5 miles long. The trail is ideal for runners and bikers as it has a soft surface making it easy for them to run and cycle.

4. The Park is ideal for picnics

The park has a large patch of grassy fields that runs for four miles in Belmont Plateau. The plateau gives visitors a chance to enjoy the view of the skyline. Another ideal picnic place in the Park is West Fairmount. This space is good for a barbeque with friends in the summer as it has a good ambience that allows visitors to bond and relax over good food.

5. The country’s first zoo is located in Fairmount Park

The Philadelphia Zoo was opened in 1874, and it is found west of Fairmount Park. This was the first zoo to be opened in the country, with more than 1300 animals currently. The zoo features magnificent animals like the Caribbean flamingo, the African lion, a tiger and giraffes.

Therefore, the vast species found in the zoo makes for an interesting experience for visitors of all ages as they will encounter some animals they had never seen before and thus make the trip memorable.

6. Historical mansions in the park

Fairmount Park has historic houses that were built by wealthy families in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. There are a total of six mansions distributed on both sides of the river that are collectively known as the park charms. The mansions give tourists a glimpse of how wealthy people in America lived and the changes that have been made since then.

Additionally, the mansions show 18^th-century architecture, which is fascinating as houses and furniture does not look the same as the ones in contemporary society.

7. The Japanese house and garden

The park houses the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Centre, a Japanese house and garden where Japanese structures were constructed for the Centennial exhibition in 1876. The centre was built in Japan and then moved to West Fairmount Park in 1957.

The visitors can take summer tours that usually run from Tuesday to Sunday to explore the place and learn more about the history of the cultural centre. The cost of taking the tours is relatively low, which means that even visitors who are on a budget have the opportunity to partake in the unique cultural orientation.

8. The Smith Memorial Playground

The 120-year-old playground was established in Fairmount Park during the 1800s. This was a time when the American Playground Movement was advocating for play for children’s well being. The playground takes up six and a half acres of the park’s land with an indoor playhouse, kid-friendly gyms and a wooded slide.

The playground still exists today, and it is not limited to only children, as adults can let their inner child out and enjoy the playground.

9. The Fairmount waterworks

The park came into existence because the city wanted to protect the river Schuylkill and ensure that the water sources were preserved. Therefore, the park keen on ensuring that the public is educated about water sustainability and innovation in the water sector.

The Fairmount Water Works is used as an education centre to provide this critical information to members of the public.

10. Visitors can go zip lining in the park

The Treetop Quest Philly has zip lines and over 50 obstacle courses that visitors can take part in. The zip lines range from easy to difficult ones, which means that it is ideal for both adults and kids as each person can choose an obstacle that they can manage.