From Swamps to Recreation Area: The History of a Famous Philadelphia Park

Philadelphia impresses with its unique nature and abundance of beautiful locations. There one can enjoy not only the beautiful flora but also watch various animals in their natural habitat. Interestingly, many species live in places once created by people, specifically, in all kinds of recreational areas. Despite this fact, wild animals feel very comfortable there. Local population and authorities provide them with such conditions. People actively support animals, preserving their species and providing the most appropriate habitat. After all, one of the core values for Philadelphians is the conservation of nature and the environment. Read more at Philadelphia.name.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park is Philly’s most famous recreational area. It features a fairly vast territory with a golf course, hiking trails and picnic zones. In addition, there are many unusual buildings and beautiful landscape compositions in the park. A lot of different animals live there too. Birds deserve special attention, as their number is so large that this area was even awarded an unusual status.

In this article, you will learn more about one of the most famous parks in Philadelphia.

A special place

It should be noted that many Philadelphia citizens consider this park as a kind of green oasis where various entertainment events are held. That is why this place is always full of visitors.

How did it all start?

The history of the park traces back to the early twentieth century. It was designed by the Olmstead Brothers company.

Another interesting fact is that the park zone was reclaimed from island marshlands.

In 1926, the park was chosen for the Sesquicentennial Exposition which prompted a significant improvement of the area and its design change. But the original design remained the same. So the Olmstead brothers’ project was just a little bit updated.

Such objects as a boathouse, a gazebo and the American-Swedish Historical Museum were left after the aforementioned exhibition. All of them are located on the grounds of the park and are of great value.

In 1955, this park was officially named Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park.

The park was included in the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 2000.

Wonderful place

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park is located on the Atlantic Coastal Plain. This region is rich with various plants and animals.

As for ponds and lagoons, they are the remains of old swamps and canals.

Rumor has it that these swamps began to be filled in and drained in the seventeenth century.

Subsequently, tide gates were installed there needed for drainage from the park.

Favorable conditions for birds

It is curious that this park is known as an important ornithological zone. There is a huge number of birds that live in their natural habitat. However, this does not mean that they should not be monitored and protected. There are such birds as shovelers, gadwalls, wigeons, ring-necked ducks, redheads, pintails, snow geese and herons.

Accordingly, experts believe that the park is the best place in Philadelphia to observe birds.

Birds have comfortable living conditions due to the fact that there are water bodies in the park. Therefore, even natatorial species feel there quite well. This fact simply cannot be ignored.

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