Schuylkill River Park is a nice spot to get some fresh air and has plenty of grassy areas that are…read moreperfect for a picnic. I came here with some friends to have a picnic and watch the sunset, and it was a really nice place for it. You get great views of the Schuylkill River along with the Philly skyline, and the sunset was beautiful from here. There's also a basketball court and easy access to the riverwalk, which is perfect for biking, running, or just taking a walk along the water. Overall, it's a nice little outdoor spot in the city to relax, hang out with friends, or enjoy the views.

Such a cute and well maintained park! Sometimes going to the Squares just isn't the vibe, this park…read moreFEELS like a real park. Lots of benches, picnic tables, a small playground, basketball court, dog park and direct access to the water and river trail. Everything was clean and the park is really well kept!

Great place to take kids or walk around on a nice day in Philly! Chinese Lantern festival is so…read morecool, both in day time (free) and night time (around $30 a person). So close to chinatown so you will be near great food options. Patco station right here so it's easy to get to! I love the activities they have to do here

Stopped at Franklin Square during a Big Bus city holiday lights tour to see the PECO Light Show, a…read morelight show synchronized to seasonal music throughout the entire area. The park's carousel is illuminated with festive lights, and seemed to be a hit with the families present. Seasonal treats and warm beverages were available at the on-site SquareBurger, priced as one would expect at a tourist location like this. While the festive decorations and activities are lovely, the park was quite crowded, while we were there. Also, the bathroom trailer was absolutely disgusting, despite a small team of custodial employees on site, so plan on holding it while you're there if you can! All in all, Franklin Square was a pleasant diversion, I wouldn't make a special trip to visit.

This park is a really nice place to walk around or sit and read a book. There are plenty of benches…read morearound to choose from, and it has really beautiful scenery. There are some cool statues as well and the layout is nice.

There aren't many public parks in the U.S. built in the 17th century. Rittenhouse Square Park is…read moreone of them, and it's a good one. Visiting Philly for work on a weekend, every evening the park came to life with live music, people walking, reading, and playing. There are plenty of benches for sitting, statues to find, fountains, and more. If you want a slice of nature and community in the city, go here!

Heinz Park is a wonderfully well managed clean environmentally friendly refuge area. It has well…read moremarked trails; strategically located observation platforms, bridges and marshlands throughout. The Heinz is suitable for biking. Jogging, hiking, dog waking, nature and bird watching. This community resource is multifaceted, providing options for all ages and interests, don't miss it when in the area.

Good spot, easy to forget it's still in the city…read more I've been here a handful of times, usually after work or on weekends when I need to get outside for a bit. Once you're on the trails it gets surprisingly quiet. Like, noticeably quieter than you'd expect from somewhere still technically inside Philadelphia. The paths are mostly flat gravel so it's not a hard walk at all. I tend to stop on the boardwalks and just look out over the marsh for a few minutes. Last time there were a few turtles lined up on a log, and I'm pretty sure I spotted a couple of herons near the water too. You do hear planes since the airport's close by, but it doesn't really bother me. Kind of adds to the strangeness of the place in a way I actually like. One thing worth knowing: the mosquitoes are no joke. I skipped bug spray once and regretted it pretty quickly. If you're going in summer, just bring some, especially if you're planning to hang around near the water.

Fairmount Park offers amazingly social green space for people and pets. There are many fountains,…read moregardens and walking paths abundant with niches to explore. I'm still finding my way around through the Schuylkill River Trail to food trucks and more permanent dining establishments that wind back, toward and around Fairmount Park - it's huge. The original park or historic core is over 2,000 acres and there's more! For people who live in Center City, particularly apartment dwellers, Fairmount Park is epic.

Fairmount Park is one of the biggest parks in the United States. It still has original houses from…read morethe 1700s. It has walking trails, ballfields and playgrounds. You can also drive through the park. Smith playground is a mansion with indoor activities and a big outdoor playground for kids. The best part about Smith playground is the giant wooden slide. The kids and adults can both go on the discovery center is in a former reservoir. It has walking trails and indoor activities to learn about the park. The horticultural center in Japanese teahouse are also located in the park. It's a great place to picnic!

Very cool park along the water. The large, docked ships add a layer that other waterfront parks…read moredon't have. A lot of hammocks and "chill" spots in the shade. I visited the park largely to see one of their summer shows. The Lazy Hammock stage is walled in in its own section of the park. There is a bar at the back right corner of the area. There are lots of picnic benches and seating to the left of the walled in space. The middle is reserved for those that want to stand/dance. The sound quality was excellent. I found the stones on the ground to be annoying when trying to move to the music but there is a pit area at the front of the stage made from wood. This area was a lot more to my liking.

This family fun park offers a superb outdoor experience that's quite engrossing and a great place…read morefor group fun even in periods of high holiday weekend traffic. It's home to various facilities, such as a popular paddle boat in the shape of a swan, walking trails, kid-friendly swing sets and a dedicated hammock for relaxation. Official venue parking rates are relatively expensive, but a very effective alternative parking policy will be to park for free close to South Street and then make a short walk down to park premises.

X-posting a review from the Wissahickon Park page. This park is so good it deserves two 5-star…read moreratings. Hard to rate an entire park this massive, but all things considered, after 5 years of traversing the trails here, this is an awesome park. Note that I live in U-City, so the fact that such a massive trail system exists in only a ~20 minute drive, depending on which part of the park I start in, is a blessing and keeps my sanity. Friends of Wissahickon does a great job maintaining trails and even expanding the system over the past few years. I don't think I've ever observed an unseemly part of the park. Definitely unseemly times of year like the snow thaw or the time between the trees dying and the snow falling, but otherwise, this park is beautiful all times of year. I've never had a hard time parking, never even had trouble with crowds even around the most popular trails (ex. Forbidden Drive). Even the bikers are friendly and patient here! Would strongly recommend not only visiting but coming back to keep exploring! I'm still finding new gems in this massive trail system.

Today I decided to switch things up and take a trip to Valley Green in Wissahickon Park, Philly…read more I've always heard about Devil's Pool but had never been, so when I saw the trailhead, I figured--why not check it out? What I've known about Devil's Pool is that it's been a popular hangout spot, especially for teens and young adults--swimming, drinking, smoking, etc. But I wasn't prepared for how disappointing the trail would be. At nearly every turn, there was trash--plastic bottles, wrappers, and even entire black garbage bags just left behind. The closer I got to Devil's Pool, the worse it got. There are clear signs asking visitors to take their trash with them, yet so many clearly don't. It's really disheartening to see such a beautiful natural space disrespected like that. Instead of feeling peaceful or connected to nature, it honestly felt a bit unsanitary and neglected. Wissahickon Park deserves better. If you visit, please respect the space and take out everything you bring in.

Washington Square is one of my favorite Philly parks…read more It's well-maintained, full of trees, and safe. There's plenty of seating - grab a bench, or idle on its lovely central fountain. There's a war memorial, and a few virtual gyms for any Pokemon Go players[1]. I like that commuters walk through the park, and I see a mix of folks relaxing or reading or jogging. It's peaceful. Oh, and it's tourist light, a surprise since it's not far from the Liberty Hall and Independence Hall. [1] Like me... gotta catch 'em all.

Such a beautiful park in Old City/Society Hill. It is similar to Rittenhouse square but a little…read moresmaller. The grass was well kept. Lots of trees for shade, beautiful flowers and benches make it a perfect place to sit and relax! It also has one of the former Fairmount Park Guard Houses. I love to see these unique small structures being reused! The Eternal Flame monument is also in the park. Yeh park is not far from Independence Park.

SCW and I walked through Love Park and of course got our selfie in front of the Love sign. The park…read moreitself is across from the capitol building. It's fairly clean, has a visitors center (for the city not only the park) and a nice fountain that you can go in if you're adventurous or a kid. We did not, but on a warm day like it was the idea was tempting. Love Park isn't a huge park by any means, but a good place to take a walk, enjoy the welcoming atmosphere and share the time with someone you love. Love wins.

Right next to City Hall. A fun park to get a photo at with the Love sign and the rest of…read morePhiladelphia behind you. When we went around noon there wasn't a line for photos or anything. No homeless people either. Just us, a few tourists and lots of pics being taken. Fun spot for photos.

Came here for a 52 Firsts event during Spring Fest and it ended up being such a fun day. There was…read morea lot going on without feeling overwhelming. Live energy, little activity tables, and a small plant sale that was honestly very tempting. One of the coolest things I learned is that they have what's believed to be the oldest ginkgo tree in both North and South America. That alone made the visit feel a little special. I spent some time walking the trails and made my way around the water too. It's really pretty back there. Lots of flowers in bloom, open space, and quieter areas if you want a break from the crowd. I definitely liked the more shaded, tree-heavy sections the most. Some of the booths were set up fully in the sun and it got a bit intense after a while, so having those cooler, shaded areas made a big difference. Staff were very helpful and the trails are clearly marked, which made it easy to just wander without worrying about getting lost. Only downside is the location can be a little tricky to get to, especially if you're not driving. But once you're there, it's absolutely worth it. Overall just a really enjoyable, laid-back outdoor spot with a lot to explore. I'd come back, especially for another event.

Seems like a really lovely and serene acres of gardens to wander thru. Sqirrrls flowers plants…read morepathways birds benches to sit Large fallen trees to sit and it's along the water but the view was blocked by trees. I saw a pond with Lilly pads in it too. There's supposed to be free fishing from 5-7pm and it's thru the back circular parking lot. The trees are labeled w gold dog tag info. Wear bug spray cuz I had sandals and my feet felt sting and maybe bit up