Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Type	Urban park
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Area	348 acres (141 ha)
Created	1914
Operated by	Philadelphia Parks & Recreation
Visitors	120,000
Open	All year
Website	www.fdrpark.org
Philadelphia Register of Historic Places
Designated:	August 9, 2000

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Park is a large, beautiful park in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's often called "The Lakes" by local people. The park covers about 348 acres, which is like 260 football fields! It has lots of green spaces, picnic spots, and areas for fun activities. You can also find natural areas with ponds and lagoons here.

Meadow Lake with baseball fields behind it. Interstate 95 borders the park, with the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard behind it. Above an airplane begins its landing at Philadelphia International Airport.

Where is FDR Park Located?

FDR Park is in South Philadelphia. It sits right next to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. This is where you find big stadiums like Citizens Bank Park. The park is also near Interstate 95 and the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Many people in Philadelphia love the park as a green "oasis." It's a great place for outdoor fun. People going to games at the stadiums sometimes park here too.

The History of FDR Park

F.D.R. Park - Public recreation area provided by Fairmount Park Commission - 1984 - Funding Assistance from Land and Water Conservation Fund, U.S. Department of the Interior, Administered through Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, Department of Community Affairs

FDR Park was built a long time ago, in the early 1900s. It was designed by the famous Olmsted Brothers firm. They were known for designing many beautiful parks. The land for the park used to be mostly marshlands. These marshlands were part of an area called Greenwich Island.

The park was first called League Island Park. In 1926, a big event called the Sesquicentennial Exposition happened here. This event helped improve the park a lot. In the late 1940s, the park's name changed to Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park. This was to honor the former United States President. Some buildings from the 1926 Exposition are still in the park today. These include the boathouse and the American Swedish Historical Museum. In 2000, the park was added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.

Wildlife and Nature at FDR Park

FDR Park is a special place for nature. It's located on the Atlantic Coastal Plain. This area has unique plants and animals. Many of these species are rare in Pennsylvania. The park's ponds and lagoons are what's left of old marshlands. These marshlands used to cover the area between the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers.

Birds of FDR Park

Canada goose migration

The Pennsylvania Audubon Society has named FDR Park an Important Bird Area (IBA). This means it's one of the best places in Philadelphia to watch birds! The park has many different habitats. These include wetlands and waterways. This makes it a perfect home for many bird species.

You can see many different kinds of waterfowl here. Waterfowl are birds that live near water. During migration, lots of different species visit the park. Besides common birds like mallards and Canada geese, you might spot northern shovelers or gadwall. Other ducks like American wigeon, redhead, and bufflehead also visit. You might even see pied-billed grebes or double-crested cormorants. The park is also home to many other birds, from small warblers to large raptors.

Fun Things to See at FDR Park

American Swedish Historical Museum

Bellaire Manor (Samuel Preston House)

FDR Park has several interesting spots to check out:

• American Swedish Historical Museum: Learn about Swedish history and culture.
• Boat House at Meadow Lake: A historic building by the water.
• Gazebo overlooking Meadow Lake: A popular spot for photos.
• Bellaire Manor: This old house was built in 1750.
• Historic Bridges: Six old bridges built in 1914.

Activities and Recreation

The FDR Skatepark

There are many fun things to do at FDR Park:

• Tennis courts: Play a game of tennis.
• Soccer field: Enjoy a soccer match.
• Richie Ashburn baseball field: Play baseball on this field.
• Skateboard park: A popular spot for skateboarding under I-95.
• Children's playgrounds: Kids can have fun on the play equipment.
• Lakeside fishing: Try your luck fishing in the lakes.
• Bird watching: Spot many different bird species.
• Model boat racing: Watch or join model boat races at Meadow Lake.

Events at the Park

FDR Park has hosted some big events:

• Music Festival: In 1994, the Lollapalooza music festival was held here.
• Baseball Playoffs: The Carpenter's Cup Classic holds annual playoffs for high school baseball teams. The final game is played at nearby Citizens Bank Park.

Images for kids

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  A view of FDR Park.