Fairmount Park Conservancy

The Fairmount Park Conservancy leads large-scale capital improvements to philadelphia parklands, from the planning stage through construction. In 2023, projects included advancing the fdr Park plan, two capital projects in cobbs creek Park, continued planning and implementation in west Fairmount Park, and ongoing work across the natural lands within the Park system. The fdr Park plan is a once-in-a generation opportunity to stabilize and reimagine a historic olmsted Park to serve 21st century philadelphians. Guided by a community-driven plan, the Conservancy began implementation in 2021, and in 2023 made great strides such as the completion and public opening of the anna c. verna playground, and construction of a 33-acre tidal wetland that included the addition of 7,000 trees and 1,700 bushes and shrubs. The Conservancy also continued to bring improvements to west Fairmount Park, including the adaptive reuse of the historic Ohio house which is now the center for parks and the Conservancy's headquarters. The Conservancy also celebrated the completion of years of construction and enhancements to the west Fairmount Park trolley trails, and launched community engagement and outreach to reimagine the landscape around john welsh memorial fountain as a well-programmed civic space serving the Park's centennial district and adjoining parkside neighborhood. In cobbs creek Park, the Conservancy completed a $1.1 million renovation of the cobbs creek community environmental center and embarked on a multi-year transformation of the johnny sample recreation center. In 2023, the Conservancy's natural lands team led maintenance and stewardship across nearly 20 sites, including meadows, forests, wetlands and riparian areas in the philadelphia Park system. The team planted nearly 400 trees along the boxers' trail in east Fairmount Park, and 300 trees and shrubs at the horticultural center in west Fairmount Park. The team also worked to control invasive species on natural lands, successfully rescuing more than 10,000 trees and shrubs from suffocating vines.in 2023 the Conservancy also led the high-profile renovation of the iconic boathouse row lights in east Fairmount Park, replacing the aging system with modern and durable technology that will continue the city's decades-long tradition of illuminating this historic hub for recreation along the schuylkill river.

The Conservancy leads initiatives that seek to empower, educate and connect philadelphia citizens and public space partners to civic assets through volunteering, public programs, and stewardship. The neighborhood Park stewardship program engages thousands of residents organized into nearly 140 Park friends groups in the improvement of the city's neighborhood parks. In 2023, the spring love your Park week activated 1,228 volunteers at 95 participating parks and the 2023 love your Park fall weekend engaged 1,780 volunteers at 100 parks across philadelphia. Year-round, the volunteer program engaged 693 community volunteers in weekly and monthly projects led by the Conservancy, and 755 corporate volunteers from 21 organizations also supported parks maintenance and improvement. In 2023, we walk phl, a free walking group, grew to more than 3,800 members, engaged 1,611 participants in recurring walking events, and built new community connections through partnerships with the historic hatfield house, blj rowing, and farm philly's carousel house. Farm philly, the city's urban agriculture program, continued to receive support from Fairmount Park Conservancy. In 2023, more than 500 community members grew over 25,000 pounds of food at 18 community gardens. At carousel house farm, more than 400 volunteers participated in 21 weekly volunteer farm days. Treephilly, a city-wide tree planting partnership between philadelphia parks & recreation and Fairmount Park Conservancy, continued efforts to restore critical tree canopy to 30% coverage in all philadelphia neighborhoods, improve the overall environmental health of the city, and address environmental equity issues to improve the lives of residents. In 2023, the treephilly team planted 4,147 trees and distributed 1,627 free trees to residents. In addition to the above-mentioned programs, the Conservancy hosted 208 public programs that drew 13,108 attendees more than doubling 2022 attendance.

Fairmount Park Conservancy also leads the preservation, development, and management of historic resources in philadelphia's Fairmount Park, including numerous properties designated to the Conservancy's care. The Conservancy's award-winning conservation team completed historic preservation projects at historic sites in 2023, including Ohio house in west Fairmount Park and strawberry mansion in east Fairmount Park.