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No Park Too Far

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation's mission is to advance the prosperity of our city and the people within it by protecting over 10,200 acres of public land and waterways, and managing hundreds of recreation, environmental, and cultural centers. With hundreds of parks, trails, rec centers, historic and cultural attractions, and other public facilities in Philadelphia County, Philly Parks & Rec helps the city's children and residents grow by connecting them to the natural world, to each other, and to fun, physical and social opportunities. 

In nearly every Philadelphia neighborhood, there is a park offering a way to escape the urban landscape of the city. Lucky for you, SEPTA goes nearly everywhere in this city! We've teamed up with Philly Parks & Rec to encourage our riders to explore all the great parks Philadelphia has to offer, whether it's in your neighborhood or across the city. Because with SEPTA, there is no park too far!

With so many beautiful and unique parks to choose from, we highlighted a few of our favorites. Check out what each has to offer, how to get there on SEPTA, and get ready to start your adventure!

Bartram's Garden

The homestead of America's first botanist, John Bartram (1699-1777), Bartram's Garden is America's oldest living botanical garden. This 45-acre National Historic Landmark offers guided tours, a museum, and special public programs throughout the year. With its riverfront location and stunning skyline view, Bartram's Garden is a popular location for boating, picnics, and events. For the active visitors, the park includes a playground, ball fields, and access to the Schuylkill River Trail.

Get here on SEPTA: Take the Route 36 Trolley to Lindbergh Blvd & 54th Street. It's only a minute walk from there! Plan your trip here.

Burholme Park

Burholme Park is a public park in the Northeast section of Philadelphia. The park is home to the Robert W. Ryerss Museum and Library. The Museum and Library were gifts from Robert himself which he wished to be left for the “people of Philadelphia, forever." The park also houses the Burholme Golf Center, a family-friendly activity center which includes mini-golf, a golf range, arcade games and more!

Get here on SEPTA: Burholme Park is a short walk from Ryers Station on the Fox Chase Line

Clark Park

Established in 1895, Clark Park is in the heart of the University City neighborhood. With more than 300 trees, the park covers nine acres. Clark Park hosts a year-round farmer's market that is held every Saturday from 10a-2p. It also has a seasonal market held on Thursdays from 2p-7p in the summer. In addition to its impressive farmer's markets, Clark Park has many special events throughout the year, like the Dickens Day Celebration, Shakespeare in the Park, the Clark Park Music and Arts Festivals, and more. For all your recreational needs, the park offers a basketball court, an open field, a playground, and several paths. 

Get here on SEPTA: Trolley Routes 13 or 34 or Bus Route 30 drop you off right there. Plan your trip here.

Cobbs Creek

Built in the 1970s, Cobbs Creek Recreation Center, which includes Laura Sims Skatehouse, provides a pool, gymnasium, locker rooms, indoor basketball court and skating area. Programs at the skate house include ice hockey in the winter and roller hockey in the summer. Laura Sims Skatehouse also has open ice skating hours October through May. 

Cobbs Creek Trail runs through the borough of Lansdowne, just west of Philadelphia. The paved parkway offers a scenic route along its tree-lined namesake creek from the 63rd Street Station to Cobbs Creek Parkway and 70th Street. In addition to the paved parkway, there are trails (both paved and unpaved) within 350-acre park itself.  

Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Center has offered environmental education programs for more than two decades. The center offers hands-on activities, research, and teacher training to strengthen in-school environmental education.

Get here on SEPTA: Cobbs Creek Trail and Recreation Center are both a short walk from 63rd Street Station on the Market-Frankford Line. You can also take the Media/Elwyn Line to Angora Station or the Route 21. Plan your trip here.

East Fairmount Park

East Fairmount Park, or just East Park, is the section of Fairmount Park east of the Schuylkill River. As part of the largest park in Philadelphia, East Park includes a number of green spaces, attractions, and landmarks. Dell Music Center in East Park is an open-air amphitheater that offers live music and entertainment throughout the summer months. Other attractions within East Park include historic mansions, Sedley Woods Disc Golf Course, Smith Memorial Playground, and the Discovery Center.

Get here on SEPTA: Take Bus Routes 54 or 61 to the heart of East Fairmount Park.

FDR Park

 

The 350-acre FDR Park is located in South Philadelphia near the Sports Complex. In addition to sports fields, the park has trails for walking and running, convenient fishing spots along Edgewood and Meadow Lakes, a boathouse, and lawns for picnics. Audubon Society of Pennsylvania has said that FDR Park is one of the best places in Philadelphia to observe birds because it contains a variety of different habitats, including wetlands and waterways.

Check out this Perk for 10% off all bike and boat rentals at Wheel Fun Rentals located in FDR Park! 

Get here on SEPTA: Short walk from NRG Station on the Broad Street Line. You can also take Routes 4 or 17 to 20th & Pattison Ave. Plan your trip here.

Love Park

Love Park, also known as John F. Kennedy Plaza, is a 2-acre park at the heart of Center City. Located across the street from City Hall, the park features benches, trees, lush plantings, a large lawn area, and a central fountain with colorful lights. It is unofficially named after Robert Indiana's LOVE sculpture which was first placed in the park in 1976.

LOVE Park also features activities, programs and amenities. Weekdays from 11a-3p, a rotating line-up of five food trucks will set up shop for “Lunch in LOVE,” creating a delicious and fun outdoor food court. Café tables and chairs are available adjacent to the trucks to accommodate the lunchtime visitors. Passive games, special events (including weddings), performances and a new restaurant in the Welcome Center building (expected Fall of 2018) will round out the experience for the thousands of people visiting the park each day.

Get here on SEPTA: It's so easy to get to LOVE Park on SEPTA! Hop the Market-Frankford Line or Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 & 36 to 15th Street, the Broad Street Line to City Hall, Bus Routes 2, 17, 33, 38, 44, 48, 124 or 125 or Regional Rail to Suburban Station.

Penn Treaty Park

 

Penn Treaty Park is Fishtown's largest green space, named for the treaty William Penn signed with the local Lenape tribe in 1683. Located along the Delaware River, the park offers spectacular views of the Ben Franklin Bridge. The park includes a walking trail, picnic spots, a playground, and a large open field. Throughout the year, the park plays host to a number of events like outdoor concerts and Champagne in the Park.

Get here on SEPTA: Take the Route 43 to Columbus & Delaware Ave. The park is also a 10-minute walk from the Frankford & Delaware Ave stop on the Route 15 Trolley. You can also take the Market-Frankford Line to Girard Station and make the short walk to the park. Plan your trip here.

Pennypack Park

 

Surrounding its namesake creek, Pennypack Park in Northeast Philly covers over 1,600 acres of woodlands, meadows, and wetlands. Within the park, there are multi-use trails used for biking, running, hiking, and horseback riding, historic buildings, working farm, and more. Pennypack Park is a popular destination for animal enthusiasts, with over 150 species of birds and a large variety of mammals. Naturalists John James Audubon and Alexander Wilson spent many hours in the park observing the wildlife. 

Inside the park, Pennypack Environmental Center offers educational events and programming to guests.

Get here on SEPTA: Because of its largeness, there are many different ways to access Pennypack Park on SEPTA. Via Regional Rail, take the Trenton Line to Holmesburg Junction or the Fox Chase Line to Fox Chase Station. Via bus, take Routes 70 or 84 to Station Road, Route 88 to Welsh Road, Route 28 to Rhawn Street, Routes 20 or 50 to Holme Ave, Route 18 to Krewstown Rd, Route 67 to Verree Rd, or Route 66 to Frankford Ave. With so many ways to get there, you have no excuse not to visit! Plan your trip here.

Tacony Creek Park

 

Tacony Creek Park is a watershed park along the Tacony Creek featuring 300 acres of streamside and woodland park habitat in the urban landscape of Northeast Philadelphia. Within the park is the Tacony Creek Trail, a 3.2-mile asphalt path great for biking, walking, and running. The trail offers creekside views and ample opportunities for birdwatching, learning about the local watershed or simply taking a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. Near the trail's southern end, the park's Ferko Playground offers a large and popular play space for children, while adjacent ball fields welcome young local athletes.

Get here on SEPTA: Take the Route K to Crescentville & Adams Ave or the Route 18 to Rising Sun & Adams Ave. Plan your trip here.

Wissahickon Valley Park

Wissahickon Valley Park is a rustic, natural park that offers hiking, biking, horseback riding, and other recreational opportunities. Wissahickon Valley Park Trail (AKA Forbidden Drive) is a multi-use trail that follows its namesake creek for 7 miles from Manayunk through the Valley. There are also 50 miles of side trails that wind through the wooded hillside. The serene park is filled with waterfalls and wildlife, making it a favorite subject of artists and writers like Edgar Allen Poe and John Greenleaf Whittier, who visited the rocky hillsides frequently for relaxation and inspiration. Check out a map of the park here.

Wissahickon Environmental Center offers educational walks, activities, and events to guest. 

Get here on SEPTA: To access the Wissahickon Trail, there are a few options. Via Regional Rail, take the Chestnut Hill West Line to St. Martins Station. Follow Springfield Ave and Valley Green Road into the gorge to connect with the trail. You can also take the Chestnut Hill West Line to Highland Station. Follow Seminole Avenue and then Rex Avenue down into the gorge to connect with the Trail. Via bus, take the Route 27 to Wise's Mill Road or Routes L or 97 to Northwestern Avenue. Plan your trip here.