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When William Penn founded Philadelphia, he wanted to establish a “greene countrie towne,” bursting with public parks. Philly has remained steeped in green, continuously boasting one of the largest urban park systems in the country.
Today’s Fairmount Park encompasses more than 2,050 acres, largely divided across East Fairmount Park and West Fairmount Park, providing ample opportunity to escape the bustle of the city to take a stroll, play some softball, hit the trails or enjoy a relaxing family picnic.
Plus, the park hosts Colonial-era mansions, an iconic Japanese house, two outdoor concert venues, the world-famous Philadelphia Museum of Art, a charming row of Victorian-era boathouses and so much more.
The parts of Philadelphia considered Fairmount Park have changed over time, so rather than let you wander around two thousand acres without a plan, we’ve compiled a guide to the most essential sites and activities in Fairmount Park.
Unlike a traditional park set in one place, think of Philly’s Fairmount Park as a mosaic of green, broken into smaller sections that, when combined, make up a beautiful portrait. The park and the city are completely intertwined, truly embodying Penn’s original vision.
The green space known as Fairmount Park once totaled 9,200 acres. In 2010, the city merged all parks under the umbrella of Philadelphia’s Department of Parks and Recreation, with only a small section holding onto the Fairmount Park label.
Today’s designated Fairmount Park spans across two major geographic sections of the city: East Fairmount Park and West Fairmount Park. The Schuylkill River serves as the dividing line, with East spanning the area behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art and along Kelly Drive and West appropriately stretching toward West Philadelphia.
Read on for a run-down of Fairmount Park’s top attractions and things to do.
Tucked into West Fairmount Park and surrounded by blossoming cherry trees, the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center remains the city’s go-to spot for taking in the blooms during cherry blossom season.
The namesake Shofuso building — a post-World War II gift of peace to America from Japan, modeled after a traditional 17th-century Japanese house — boasts stunning grounds, gardens, a tiered waterfall and a koi pond. Visitors can stroll the grounds year-round, tour the house or sign up for a Japanese-themed workshop.
— Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
More than a million visitors pass through the gates of America’s first zoo each year to see the nearly 1,900 animal inhabitants (many rare and endangered) who call the Philadelphia Zoo home.
Stretched across 42 acres, the zoo offers a stroll through a Victorian garden with tree-lined walks, formal shrubbery and animal sculptures while simultaneously featuring a first-in-the-world animal travel and exploration train system — Zoo360 — which enables primates and big cats to move above and across the main visitor pathway.
The Please Touch Museum is a play-centric educational space where kids can do something they’re usually told not to do: Touch everything.
Pint-sized museum guests can stock shelves in a functional mini grocery store, have tea with the Mad Hatter and float boats along a mini Schuylkill River.
Located in Memorial Hall (built during the Centennial celebration), the museum features six interactive exhibit zones, including four areas specifically designed for children 3 and younger.
Free and open to the public, Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse remains one of the oldest playgrounds in America, best known for its huge wooden slide. The circa-1899 Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide sends kids zooming down its 60-foot-long slope, wide enough to hold a dozen kids at a time.
The space encompasses six-and-a-half acres, complete with more than 50 pieces of play-inducing equipment, a Tot-Lot perfect for the littlest visitors and indoor play-stallations.
Located in the exact spot where the 1876 Centennial Exhibition’s horticulture hall once stood, the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center offers manicured grounds and a greenhouse (occasionally the site of greenhouse yoga).
Outside, visitors can take in fountains, sculptures, gardens and a treehouse-meets-public-art-space, Pavilion in the Trees. Inside the greenhouse, tropical and succulent plants thrive year-round.
The Centennial Arboretum also features a stunning cherry allée grove and hosts the annual Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival each spring.
Cherry Blossom Festival at Centennial Arboretum — Photo by K. Kelly for Visit Philadelphia
One of the city’s most iconic sites, Boathouse Row’s picturesque collection of 19th-century boathouses lines the east bank of the Schuylkill River, setting it aglow with dazzling LED lights once night falls. Each building hosts a local rowing club, whose members frequently practice on the river.
Visitors can rent bikes, grab a snack, fill up a water bottle and use the facilities at Lloyd Hall Recreation Center, which also makes a great starting point for exploring East Fairmount Park.
— Photo by Elevated Angles for Visit Philadelphia
Trade the city bustle for forested trails in both East and West Fairmount Park.
Philly boxing legend Joe Frazier loved the 3.8-mile Boxers’ Trail in East Fairmount Park. In fact, legend has it that Muhammad Ali sought out Frazier there to challenge him. The trail connects Sedgley Woods Disc Golf Course with Strawberry Mansion (see below).
Walkers, runners and bikers enjoy the 4.5-mile, multi-use Trolley Trail in West Fairmount Park, accessed at the historic Chamounix Mansion.
Boxer's Trail — Photo courtesy Fairmount Park Conservancy
There’s nothing quite like catching a concert in an open-air venue, and Fairmount Park has not one, but two stellar spots to do just that.
A-list musicians come through West Fairmount Park’s Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts, offering concerts with epic views of the Philly skyline as the backdrop.
East Fairmount Park’s Dell Music Center showcases R&B, jazz, soul, and gospel performers — like the legendary Patti LaBelle — and hosts an annual concert during the Wawa Welcome America celebration.
Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts — Photo courtesy Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts
Philly’s Schuylkill River hosts numerous regattas each year, including high school scholastic and collegiate championship competitions, plus the always-fun-to-watch dragon boat regattas.
Spectators line the river’s shoreline along Kelly Drive to cheer on rowers at competitions like the Stotesbury Cup, the largest of its kind in the world, and the Head of the Schuylkill, dubbed “America’s favorite regatta.”
Pro tip: Head to the Playing Angels statues at Fountain Green Drive for the best views.
Built by wealthy families between the 18th and 19th centuries, six historic mansions — known collectively as the Park Charms — offer a glimpse into the opulence of early American families.
Currently, four houses remain open to the public for tours, all located within East Fairmount Park: Laurel Hill, Lemon Hill, Historic Strawberry Mansion and Woodford. In addition to tours, the sites often host public programs like holiday house tours.
When Fairmount Water Works opened in 1815, people traveled from around the world and donned their Sunday best to see the mechanical marvel that pumped water right into homes across Philadelphia.
Since 2003, the National Historic Landmark — located between Boathouse Row and the Philadelphia Museum of Art — has operated as an education center, teaching visitors about innovations in urban water projects and sustainability. Oh, and it’s also a luxe event venue.
A grassy expanse four miles northwest of Center City, Belmont Plateau rises 243 feet above the Schuylkill River, providing unparalleled views of the skyline.
As immortalized in the classic Summertime song by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, the Plateau is the place to be for barbecues, picnics, sporting events, Instagramming, kite flying and overall summer hanging.
Pro tip: Belmont Plateau offers stellar petal peeping when the cherry blossoms bloom in early spring and dazzling views of Fourth of July fireworks.
Have fun up in the tree canopy at Treetop Quest Philly, Philly’s aerial adventure park, open from late March through mid-November.
With more than 60 obstacle courses and ziplines, guests can choose from four difficulty levels, ranging from kid-friendly to adventure extremists only. Wear closed-toe shoes (sneakers are best) and expect to climb trees, traverse narrow walkways high above the ground and glide on ziplines.
The site also hosts group gatherings like birthday parties.
When William Penn claimed Philadelphia in the 17th century, he decided to name the tallest hill nearby Faire Mount. The elevation of the spot made it the perfect place to establish a water delivery system that relied on gravity to guarantee Philadelphians access to clean water (a novel idea at the time).
In the mid-19th century, when industrialization began polluting Philadelphia’s rivers and consequently the sources of the city’s drinking water, Philly started purchasing land around the river to protect the water supply and to give residents green places to hang out.
— Photo courtesy Fairmount Park Conservancy
Since then, Fairmount Park has hosted the 1876 Centennial Exhibition (drawing over 10 million visitors!), countless rowing races along the Schuylkill River and live music events galore.
In 2010, the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation absorbed all of the Fairmount Park Commission, and the area officially known as Fairmount Park shrank to its current size.
Trails and green space in Fairmount Park open daily from sunrise to sunset and access remains free as the wind. Attractions set their own hours and admission, so check each site before a visit.
Picnic facilities open up on a first-come, first-served basis, with permits required for large gatherings and festivals.
It’s Philly’s biggest year yet!
Make the most of it by booking the Visit Philly Overnight Package, which comes with free hotel parking and complimentary tickets to some of the most popular attractions in each of Greater Philadelphia’s five counties including Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition at The Franklin Institute, the Mercer Museum in Bucks County, Longwood Gardens in Chester County, the Brandywine Museum of Art in Delaware County and Elmwood Park Zoo in Montgomery County.
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