Fairmount Park Conservancy

A stronger future for Philadelphia starts in our parks.

One year ago, we kicked off the public phase of the Fair Play Campaign, a historic effort to raise over $100 million to create healthy park infrastructure, expand people-centered programs, and prepare our organization for the future.

As we look ahead, our ability to deliver equitable park access, economic resiliency, and the promise of sustainable parks to our communities is only possible with broad support.

We invite you to join us in creating a new era for Philadelphia’s parks: fairplayphilly.org

🎡 Our partners Philadelphia Parks & Recreation along with Wawa Welcome America invite you to celebrate America’s 250th at Philly Fair 250! From June 20-22, come to West Fairmount Park’s Centennial District for food, entertainment, activities for kids, and much more. Learn more on the events page at july4thphilly.com

🍿 Did you know? The Centennial District gets its name from hosting the 1876 Centennial Exposition - the first ever World’s Fair on U.S. soil.

👟If you haven’t explored this part of the park and its history before, now is your chance! At 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Fairmount Park Conservancy will host free park tours as part of Philly Fair 250:

We Walk PHL Philly Fair 250 Pop-Up Walk
Saturday, June 20 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Join We Walk PHL for a special Philly Fair 250 pop-up nature walk through the Centennial District in West Fairmount Park!

1876 Centennial Tour
Sunday, June 21 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Join the Conservancy and local educator and organizer Michael Burch for a walking tour retracing the footprint of the 1876 Centennial!

Learn more on our events page: https://myphillypark.org/events/calendar/

One year ago, we cut the ribbon on the new Gateway Plaza at FDR Park! 🎉

Designed to welcome pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders to the park, the Gateway Plaza has quickly become a vibrant community gathering space. From We Walk PHL celebrations and ¡Bailar en FDR! evenings to everyday moments of connection, the new plaza is helping more people discover all that FDR Park has to offer.

Swipe through for a look back at the Gateway Plaza’s first year and the people who have brought the space to life!
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For more news and updates, sign up for our FDR Park email newsletter: qrco.de/fdr-park-newsletter

From neighborhood parks to scenic trails, We Walk PHL groups are exploring Philadelphia one step at a time. 👟🌳

There’s still time to join a weekly walking group at one of 29 locations across the city through June 30 – and every walk can bring you one step closer to completing the Park Hopper Challenge! Visit at least two parks this spring for a chance to win a prize. Walking groups, volunteer cleanups, and park events all count towards participation.

Find a walk near you and start hopping: https://myphillypark.org/wewalk-spring26/
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We Walk PHL is a partnership between Fairmount Park Conservancy, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation

💦☀️ You're Invited! ☀️💦

Join Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation as the City officially kicks off the 2026 pool season with the first rollout of neighborhood pool openings across Philadelphia!

Come celebrate, learn about summer programs and resources for youth, and watch the ceremonial first plunge. 🏊‍♀️🎉

This spring, as Philadelphia began its final countdown to the FIFA World Cup, Fairmount Park Conservancy and partners like Comcast teamed up to prepare Lemon Hill to serve as one of Philadelphia’s most visible gathering places, ensuring the historic East Fairmount Park site is ready to welcome fans, neighbors, vendors, and visitors from around the world.

Lemon Hill has long been part of Philadelphia’s civic story, an historic landscape where generations of residents have gathered, explored, and connected with the city’s public spaces.

During the spring volunteer series, participants helped beautify and care for the site through tree care, litter and debris removal, trail edging, shrub plantings, and stewardship across the landscape. Their work helped prepare a welcoming, vibrant public space for one of the most visible moments in Philadelphia’s summer.

The effort reflects our mission to activate and care for parks through the power of people. It also shows how major events can bring new attention, partnership, and investment to the public spaces that serve Philadelphia every day.

Thank you to our partners Comcast, Office of Clean and Green, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, PHS Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and Lemon Hill Neighbors Association
Learn more about this project on our blog:

As World Cup nears, Lemon Hill gets ready for fans, vendors, and visitors – Fairmount Park Conservancy This spring, as Philadelphia began its final countdown to the FIFA World Cup, Fairmount Park Conservancy and partners like Comcast teamed up to prepare Lemon Hill to serve as one of Philadelphia’s most visible gathering places, ensuring the historic East Fairmount Park site is ready to welcome fan...

Protecting our historic places starts with investing in the people who will preserve them for the future.

This year, Fairmount Park Conservancy’s historic preservation team expanded its partnership with the Eastern State Penitentiary Preservation Trades Center, leading three weeks of hands-on workshops focused on window restoration. Eight participants developed practical preservation skills, such as joinery, glass cutting, and glazing, and explored how those techniques were applied at historic sites like Lemon Hill Mansion.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a program that connects emerging trades professionals with expert mentorship, meaningful work experience, and pathways into the preservation field.

Tap through for a look behind the scenes and join us in congratulating this year’s graduates!

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The Preservation Trades Center is a partnership between Eastern State Penitentiary, PowerCorps PHL, City College for Municipal Employment, City of Philadelphia Government, Fairmount Park Conservancy, Fulton Bank, and the William Penn Foundation.

New date, same classic thriller! 🎬🌙 Join us at McMichael Park on Thursday, June 25 for a screening of Rear Window.

Bring your favorite movie snacks, grab a blanket or lawn chair, and join us for Alfred Hitchcock’s suspenseful classic under the stars featuring Jimmy Stewart and East Falls’ own Grace Kelly.

📍 McMichael Park
🗓 Thursday, June 25
⏰ 8–10 PM

This event is presented by Fairmount Park Conservancy, Philadelphia Film Society, and Friends of Mcmichael Park. We hope to see you there!

Pre-registration is encouraged for event updates: https://events.ticketleap.com/events/fairmountpark/movie-night-rear-window-192599308

Looking for free outdoor movies in Philadelphia? 🎥 More than 20 Philly parks are hosting movie nights this summer and fall — bring a blanket, pack your favorite snacks, and join us at dusk for a cinematic adventure under the stars!

Check in with your local Park Friends Group for the latest updates and any schedule changes.

These movie nights are supported by Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.

View the full list: https://myphillypark.org/2026-movies-in-philly-parks/