Last week Philadelphia Magazine released its annual “Best of Philly” issue, and listed Anna C. Verna Playground as the Best Playground and the Trolley Trail as Best New Trail!
About the Anna C. Verna Playground
Fairmount Conservancy and partners celebrated the playground’s official opening nine months ago. Since then, this innovative, accessible, and nature-inspired playground in FDR Park has welcomed hundreds of visitors daily to embark on some “risky play,” test out North America’s largest swing, and participate in the Conservancy’s pop-up events at the playground.
The completion of Anna C. Verna Playground was the first of many projects outlined in the FDR Park Plan, a blueprint for the park’s revitalization and protection from climate change. The playground’s tree-inspired play elements, birdhouse-shaped structures, and placement on the banks of Pattison Lagoon reflect the FDR Park Plan’s commitment to unifying nature, water, and human activity in one park.
Thank you and congratulations to our project partners Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, WRT, Studio Ludo, KS Engineering, Meliora Design, dbHMS, and Daniel J. Keating. Special thanks as well to the Conservancy staff that visit the playground multiple times weekly for maintenance and cleaning!
About the Trolley Trail
From 1896 to 1946, the Fairmount Park Trolley carried passengers through East and West Fairmount Park, looping from Memorial Hall and 52nd Street to Belmont Plateau and the Woodside Amusement Park. The trolley ride provided a unique and memorable way for visitors to access and explore Fairmount Park.
Today, the Trolley Trail provides a unique and memorable experience for 21st-century visitors to West Fairmount Park. This multi-purpose four-mile loop trail follows the path of the early 20th-century trolley, winding through the lush woods north of the Belmont Plateau.
Fairmount Park Conservancy constructed the new trail in partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Rec and the Belmont Plateau Trails Association. The loop trail was completed in 2021 and a new, prominent gateway entrance to the trail was established at the Chamounix Picnic Area in 2022. Additionally, the Conservancy has planted more than 400 trees and shrubs along the trail and trailhead. Last summer, new wayfinding and interpretive signage was installed along the trail to assist both frequent trail-goers and new visitors to the trail. In celebration of years of hard work and milestone accomplishments, the Conservancy joined partners, community members, and trail enthusiasts for the long-awaited ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Trolley Trail last fall.
