Scope and Contents Note This collection includes maps, plans and drawings of Bartram's Garden and the Bartram House and building complex, which includes the Bartram house and additional buildings such as seed house and barn. The Schuylkill River Trail project is also documented in this collection. Items are in a variety of formats, including paper, linen and blueprint, as well as a variety of sizes. The majority of items in this collection were created between 1920 and 1980. While the types of maps included are...

Abstract Part of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park System, Cobb’s Creek Park has a rich and diverse history of transformative use. Located in the western and southwestern regions of Philadelphia, Cobb’s Creek Park was developed alongside the Cobb’s Creek watershed and contains approximately 800 acres of preserved land. Park development along such watersheds is fairly unique to the city of Philadelphia, and is not nearly as common in other urban park systems. While Cobb’s Creek is the predominant waterway...

Abstract Items in this collection relate to East and West Fairmount Park, the original components of what has become the vast Fairmount Park system. Unique in its composition, these areas not only contain naturalist landscapes, but they are also home to a truly diverse set of historic and functional structures. In addition to a vast trail system and traditional recreational facilities (such as swimming pools and baseball diamonds), these parks are also home to an array of 18th and 19th century...

Abstract Located along the southern boundary of Philadelphia, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park has been a treasured landmark in the city for nearly a century. Designed in the early 1900s by the prestigious Olmsted Brothers architectural firm, the park was originally named League Island Park as an homage to the marshy wetlands from which it was constructed. Diverse in natural resources, the park's nearly 350 acres of land contain a variety of lakes, ponds, and lagoons in addition to the coastal plain...

Scope and Contents note

This collection contains maps, drawings and plans of the Manayunk region- including the town of Manayunk, Venice Island, and Manayunk Canal. The bulk of the collection is focused on the Manayunk Canal, particularly recent restoration plans.

Abstract Included in this collection are maps, plans, and drawings of some of the locations operated by the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department. It primarily contains documentation on smaller neighborhood parks and squares. In addition to operating these locations, the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department also cares for street trees throughout the city, and a small number of records related to prominent streets (particularly Roosevelt Boulevard) are also included in this...

Abstract Located in the northeasternmost region of Philadelphia, Pennypack Park has developed along the Pennypack Creek watershed. Established as protected park space in 1905 for the preservation of surrounding land, Pennypack Park is now comprised of roughly 1400 acres of woodlands, meadows, and marshland. It is also home to one of the oldest stone bridges still in use in the United States- the Holmesburg Bridge erected in 1697. Pennypack Park offers a green retreat for visitors amidst an urban...

Abstract Located in the northeastern region of Philadelphia, Tacony Creek Park is a long and narrow park comprising approximately 300 acres of land along Tacony Creek- roughly half of which is designated natural lands. Established by city ordinance in 1915, this park runs from the Tookany Park corridor in Montgomery County and is bounded on the south by Frankford Creek. Tacony Creek Park operates a number of recreational facilities as an integral part of the community, and has also been home to the...

Abstract

This collection includes maps, plans, and drawings that document the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of recreation trails operated by the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department.

Abstract Covering nearly 1,400 acres of the 10,000 acre Fairmount Park System, Wissahickon Valley Park epitomizes the breadth of resource available within the city of Philadelphia. Primarily a naturalist landscape, the parklands also support a variety of recreational activities and are home to a number of nationally important structural sites. Wissahickon Valley Park is located along the Wissahickon Creek, and has been a popular location with visitors for over a century and a half. Known best for its...