Fairmount Park Conservancy

The Fairmount Park Conservancy leads large-scale capital improvements to philadelphia parklands, from the planning stage through construction. In 2022, projects included advancing the fdr Park plan, 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 reimagine a historic olmsted Park to serve 21st century philadelphians. Guided by the community-driven plan, the Conservancy began implementation in 2021, focusing on advancing four projects that will comprise the gateway phase: the welcome center, anna c. verna playground, gateway plaza, and the people's plaza and habitat terrace. The Conservancy is engaged in a multi-year effort to deliver capital improvements to west Fairmount Park based on masterplans from 2009 and 2014. Improvements in 2022 included projects such as the parkside edge gap, infrastructure and pedestrian safety upgrades, planning for the welsh fountain restoration, and signage and wayfinding. The natural lands program represents the Conservancy's investment in restoring, maintaining and improving the woodlands, streams, meadows, and lakes that make up 60% of the city's parklands. This work in 2022 included construction of the trolley trail, restoration of the boxers' trail and canopy restoration at the trail's edge, and the restoration of the woods at the horticultural center. The team also facilitated the natural lands volunteer training program and created a natural lands training for powercorpsphl leadership.

Fairmount Park Conservancy 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 2022.

The Conservancy leads initiatives that seek to empower, educate and connect philadelphia citizens and public space partners to civic assets through volunteering, capacity building, and stewardship. The neighborhood Park stewardship program engages thousands of residents organized into 130 Park friends groups in the improvement of the city's neighborhood parks. In 2022, 98 parks and 2,327 volunteers participated in both the fall and spring love your Park days. The Conservancy launched a new volunteer program to engage year-round with volunteers in the Park's natural areas and on priority Conservancy projects. Its focus is on building community and relationships through volunteer leadership training, a public volunteer series, corporate volunteer events, special programs, and additional support during love your Park. The volunteer program hosted weekly public events drawing 888 total volunteers devoting. In 2022, we walk phl, a free walking group, grew to 2,827 members and drew 5,263 total attendees. Farmphilly, the city's urban agriculture program, has expanded with support from Fairmount Park Conservancy. In 2022, more than 500 community members grew over 25,000 pounds of food at 20 community gardens. Twelve recreation center gardens participated in the junior farmers program and engaged over 500 students in year-round after-school programming. Treephilly, a city-wide tree planting program of philadelphia parks & recreation and Fairmount Park Conservancy continued 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 2022, the treephilly team planted 11,264 trees, distributed 1,857 yard trees, and hosted 19 tree giveaways in partnership with community organizations. In addition to the above mentioned programs, the Conservancy hosted 164 public programs that drew 6,395 attendees.