Philadelphia’s park system is many things. It is big, but much of it is difficult to access.
Some sections are practically ancient, home to historic buildings hundreds of years old; one even dates back to New Sweden. At the same time, the system is constantly being renovated. If you’re lucky, you might have a new recreation center or playground down the street. But too few Philadelphians are so fortunate.
A park is not just a plot of land, of course. It is a community. That community is local — the people who enjoy and rely on the park and the friends who maintain or even expand it — but also citywide. Think of the advocates who hold the system and the City accountable to the people who depend on it.
We hope that you learn more about your parks in this issue, that you join the parks community or recommit yourself to it, that you get inspired to both enjoy our green and historic spaces and advocate for their improvement.
