Nestled on 50th and Spruce streets, Barkan Park is a small, green, open space with trees and grass. Ben Barkan fought for equality in the Philadelphia courthouses and founded the Garden Court Community Association. Barkan Park is his namesake, established in 1971 to commemorate his achievements and create communal green space in his West Philadelphia neighborhood. The park is home to many community activities throughout the year, and a place to experience and appreciate the history of Philadelphia. Bring your kids to enjoy the shade and the playground!

Cedar Park is a triangle of grass and flowers, with a playground and pedestrian plaza, park benches, and stone seating areas extending from 49th to 50th streets between Baltimore Avenue and Catharine streets. Although on the smaller side, Cedar Park is a busy and vibrant meeting place for neighbors, and plays host to the yearly Cedar Park Jazz Series. Grab a spot and watch the trolleys come and go on Baltimore Avenue.

Spanning nine acres in the heart of University City, Clark Park functions as the nexus of a thriving neighborhood. The park is many things to many people—it’s a space for games of Frisbee, pick-up basketball, or Live Action Role Playing (LARPing); it’s a place to meet for a hang, drum circle, or game of chess; it’s a venue for big events like yearly Shakespeare performances, our outdoor movie series, or various music and art festivals throughout the year. Bring a blanket or take advantage of bright orange tables and chairs.

As part of Schuylkill Yards, Drexel Square offers 1.3 acres of green space, benches, trees, and perennials, and serves as a green space for nearby workers to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Visitors can take advantage of tables and chairs protected by eye-catching yellow umbrellas, or spread out at Drexel Square’s distinctive 12,000 square foot elliptical lawn.

The James G. Kaskey Memorial Garden, commonly known as the Bio Pond, is a lush botanical garden tucked away in the middle of the University of Pennsylvania’s campus. The park features lush landscaping, mulched paths and slate steps, and wood and iron benches. The garden and pond were originally created under the direction of Provost Harrison as part of the great transformation of the campus in the 1890s.

Once a traditional thoroughfare for cars and trolleys, Locust Street transitioned into Locust Walk in the 1950s as a main artery for University of Pennsylvania students seeking a slice of nature in the middle of the bustling University City streets. Now it’s home to a beautiful canopy of trees, pieces of art, benches, and when school is in session, students seemingly everywhere you look. When the students are not on campus, Locust Walk provides a respite perfect for enjoying a meal.

Penn Park features 24 acres of athletic fields and open spaces along the Schuylkill River and to the east of the University of Pennsylvania’s academic campus. While access to some of the facilities including the tennis center is limited, visitors can use select athletic fields and enjoy lawns and meadows between 6am and midnight daily.

Saunders Park, owned and maintained by nearby Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, is a city-block-sized park and community destination. When not playing host to the Lancaster Avenue Jazz Festival and other neighborhood events, the park is a welcoming destination for families, neighbors, dogs, and employees seeking respite on their lunch breaks.

The Woodlands’ 54-acre undulating landscape is at once a one-of-a-kind 18th-century English pleasure garden, 19th-century rural cemetery, and a modern green oasis for its neighbors in bustling University City, and was designated a National Historic Landmark District in recognition of its unique history and rich resources. Actively used today, the cemetery, mansion, landscape, and programs are an educational resource for local school children, community residents, university students, as well as for a small, highly motivated cadre of scholars seeking further understanding of American architectural and botanical history, urban development, and the origin and growth of West Philadelphia.