Such a cute small nook in the corner flower garden where cats come and play/chill. I can tell the…read morelove put in by the neighbors to make this park a reality. I wish there were more parks like this in the city. We need more greens and more cats!

Love cats? Go here[1]! Don't go out of your way to travel there, but for sure incorporate it as…read morepart of a Philly walking tour. I read about this park on a dating app[2] a long time ago: It's the tiniest park ever, basically just a single lot. There are many potted plants present - presumably tended by neighbors. Across the street from the park you'll see bowls of food and water for neighborhood cats. On my most recent visit, I saw only one cat, who enthusiastically greeted me and gave me a private tour of the park. They led me to a Little Free Library there, and inside were cat treats (and free books, as you usually find inside these libraries, take a look, leave a book). [1] You might even find a kitty. [2] A prospective mentioned this park on their profile, and I was intrigued.

Five stars for being an excellent community park. Once called Black Oak Park over one hundred years…read moreago, it was renamed to honor the Civil Rights leader. The park is six acres with several playgrounds, places to sit, and lots of shade. However, the real magic is in the community events they host from Jazz to Juneteenth celebrations to the Black Farmers Market two Saturdays a month.

Chileeee... they need to trim those trees after last weekend's windstorm. The Lemon Drop Festival…read moreturned into the Tree Drop Festival.

This is a lovely, shaded park I recently discovered with quaint boardwalks and wooded bridges that…read morecross over lush vegetation. There is a nice creek where my dog enjoyed stopping for a drink along the way. The path is well-maintained and peaceful. I walked the entire loop at a brisk pace in less than 9 minutes, making it a great spot for a quick walk in nature.

This is a pretty crappy little park, wedged between Rte 202 and Conestoga Road. It consists of a…read moresingle trail that starts and ends at the parking lot, winding through mostly wooded areas, but also over a fire swampy place. See the pictures for details. There is constant and pretty loud traffic noise from Rte 202, which is a highway in this area. The enclosed nature of this place means you won't see any of the deer that are across 202 near the abandoned Aegon office building (another review, another day) or any other significant wildlife. This place just seems like an afterthought, something to do with some undeveloped land, a place to eat your lunch or make out in your car with that certain special co-worker. What prevents a one-star rating? The trail does have inclines, so you can get a decent walk. You can do the whole circuit in less than 10 minutes at a brisk pace. That, and somebody made the effort to label some of the trees. Also, it's so close to my workplace that it's hard to ignore. There's a decent stream that winds its way around which is nicely distracting. Still, with the traffic noise, you can't really feel close to nature. Oh, btw, no bike riding allowed, or golf, pets, alcohol, and be gone by dusk. So if your hamster wanted to bike to the fireswamp area to practice his night putting with a sixpack of Bud Ice, consider finding a Plan B.

I wish this park was here went to CCP since it's around the corner. The park is actually fairly…read morelarge for being in the middle of the city. It has beautiful landscaping with plants local to the area. The gardens are terraced and have rock sculptures. A gravel path runs through the park and around the gardens with grassy areas on the side. Benches are spread throughout so you can sit and enjoy it. A little free library is also in the park.

This is a charming park that is named after Matthias Baldwin, who founded the Baldwin Locomotive…read moreWorks. The locomotive factories once dominated this area. And after the operations were relocated to Eddystone, Matthias Baldwin donated the willed the land to the city that is now this park. In the park, there is a marker that explains the historic significance of this area: "BALDWIN LOCOMOTIVE WORKS For years the nation's leading locomotive manufacturer, it exported products worldwide. Established here by Matthias Baldwin in 1835, it was an early example of integrated industrial organization, employing more than 15,000 workers. Its 39 buildings encompassed 17 acres and transformed the surrounding area from a rural estate to one of the city's first factory neighborhoods. Relocating to Eddystone in 1928, it ceased production in 1956." If you're in the Fairmount area, this is a great place to have a brown-bag lunch on a park bench.

I stopped by Drexel Square Park to scope it out as a venue for an outdoor event I am planning. The…read morespace is managed by the Brandywine Realty Trust and they are a pleasure to work with in securing the space for events. There are an assortment of tables with umbrellas along the round walkway. The center of the space is a beautifully landscaped grass area. It's a great spot to sit and eat lunch or get some work done.

This is a newly created open space park with tables, chairs, and umbrellas. It's a great space to…read moregather with a group while still being socially distance.

Benjamin Rush Garden - This small garden space feels very pleasant and peaceful. It is located near…read moreimportant historical landmarks, yet it still offers a bit of relaxation away from the crowds. The greenery is well maintained and the overall environment feels harmonious. Sitting here for a while and relaxing was a very enjoyable experience for me. I definitely recommend it as a short stop during the day. Admission was free.

Welcome Park caught my attention as a peaceful spot right in the middle of the city, where you can…read moretake a short break. I like the combination of greenery, well-kept pathways, and the historical atmosphere. It's a smaller park, but it has its own charm and creates a pleasant space to pause for a while. During my visit, it was quiet and relaxing, which I really enjoyed. It's a perfect place to recharge between visiting the more famous landmarks.

NOTE: Google gives the address of "Spring Water Ln" for this preserve, however, the only access I…read moreknow of is off of 252 (explained below). I am not sure exactly when this land opened as a preserve, although by the new empty bulletin board, and lack of parking lot or signage, I am guessing it is pretty recent. I learned of Newtown Meadow Preserve only because I saw it listed as a location for twilight meditations through Newtown Square Friends Meeting. Ohhh, that's what that long driveway between Episcopal and Liseter is! This preserve is a 50-acre parcel that I guess was a conciliatory part of the agreement when the grotesquely large development of Liseter was approved. At the entrance, and at various points from the meadow trail, you can see the sprawl of townhomes, but deeper into the property, that view does fade into nature. The views of Episcopal, thankfully, fade too. (The trail that circles the perimeter of the Liseter development, does segue with the preserve, allowing residents easy access to it.) The preserve's trail is indicated simply by mowed lawn, amidst the tall wild grasses. There are small portions of gravel in places where terrain is difficult to navigate without it, or near any small bridge, etc. There is boardwalk area over wetland spots. Otherwise, this is a meadow walk on grass. I did not see any preserve rules, but I would assume bikes are not allowed. This is a field atmosphere, for sure, with very little tree cover, so be aware in the summer months, that you will be hiking in direct sun. While it's a bunch of meadows, they are hilly meadows, and you will be climbing some decent inclines. During bug season, there are BUGS! It would be nice if future plans included the release of nematodes or a bat house to control bug population. As mentioned above, the entrance I used was the long driveway directly off of Route 252 / Newtown Street Road, between Liseter and Episcopal. It gets tricky how to access it. - First, you cannot make a left into the driveway if you are headed north on 252. - Headed north, you will have to proceed to the circle at St. David's Rd, making your way around to the left, then under the overpass, then back onto 252 south. BEFORE your lane merges with 252, the driveway will be on your right. - Headed south on 252, you need to hang right at the split by Episcopal, down to the traffic light at St. David's Rd, and then proceed forward as though merging back onto 252. Again, as above, BEFORE your lane merges with 252, the driveway is on the right. - I recommend going slowly after the light at Episcopal. The driveway is EASY TO MISS if you are not familiar with the area. I have taken photos to show what you're looking for. Again, no signage as of the time of this review. - If you are familiar with the historic octagonal schoolhouse, the driveway is a smidge past that. There is currently no parking lot for the preserve. The road just dead ends, with preserve entrance on the left, and an access road for Episcopal on the right. I parked on the grass near the preserve trailhead, which is hard to see from the road, because it's behind a hedge of trees. As mentioned on the township's website, this land is part of the Ridley Creek State Park watershed, and is important to bird wildlife. The township plans to remove invasive species, with the aid of Simone Collins Landscape Architects. So, while open and available for use, this preserve is still in transition. Hopefully a parking lot and signage will happen in short order. NOTE: When exiting the preserve onto 252, you cannot make a left. If headed north, you'll have to turn around farther down the road. Not-so-fun Fact: This preserve is on the former John DuPont "Foxcatcher Farm" estate, where he resisted arrest after murdering Olympian, Dave Schultz, in 1996.