Friends of FDR Park

What a fun day full of hunting for eggs and making arts and crafts! Couldn't ask for better weather, either. Thank you to the families who spent the day with us. Happy Sunday to all!

Inquirer article about yesterday's Anti-Asian Hate Vigil at FDR Park:

Today was a gorgeous day to celebrate the creation of the Southeast Asian Market Vendors Association, celebrate Asian joy, and stand up against hate. Thank you to all the organizers who worked together to have this event at the park!

Check out this clip about FDR Park by WHYY Movers and Makers! Thanks so much for this piece that highlights some of the great things about FDR! View the entire episode here: https://whyy.org/episodes/recreational-reinvention/

A few quick reminders! Sign up for our monthly newsletter at https://www.fdrparkphilly.org/newsletter. It only takes a moment, and we will send you 1-2 emails a month with updates and news! Sign up for our volunteer newsletter, which has more specific details about how to get involved via cleaning, weeding, planting, crafting, and donating supplies to the park! bit.ly/FDRvolunteer... Finally, check out our calendar of upcoming events and opportunities on our website! You can conveniently add these events to your personal Google calendar! https://www.fdrparkphilly.org/events

Check it out! Trellis for Tomorrow, an organization focused on creating programming to foster healthy communities, reused some logs we had in our organic dump for one of their projects in West Philly! So great to be able to reduce waste and reuse materials, all while improving our community. Visit their page & website to learn more about their fun programs! Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Friday! Enjoy these neat historical photos of the American-Swedish History Museum! A building just as beautiful now as it was then!

I'm not crying, you're crying Check your email (not for work! For fun!) and read a touching letter from FDR Park director Justin about all the community building that 2020 has inspired. Take care, stay safe, and let's manifest more of that amazing energy in the new year. See you all then

We're hosting our first-ever FDR and the first prize winner gets this snazzy bag, modeled by long-time FDR champ, Martha! To enter, simply tag us in your photos on either Facebook or Instagram, and use the hash tag #FDRphotocontest! Enter as many times as you'd like! We'll get together and choose our favorite, announcing the winner February 2nd!... *The bag will be pick-up only, so please consider this when entering! * By entering the contest, you consent to us using your photo in the future for our website, our social media, or press inquiries. Good luck and happy photographing!

Tickets to the PHS : Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Flower Show, which will be hosted right here at our amazing park June 5-13, are officially ON SALE! Grab them in advance; each day and time segment will only have a certain number of spots available to allow for safe social distancing! Enjoy a dazzling display this year in the warmth of summertime And don't worry -- the vast majority of FDR will still be open and available for (free) use by the public as usual. Head o...n over to PHSonline.org! (Photo is from a past year's event and we do not take credit for the photo! This year's event will take place outside.)

Check out the Guardhouse getting a makeover! In the FDR Master Plan (www.fdrparkphilly.org/masterplan), this historic building (which use to house horse stables!) is slated to transform into FDR's new Welcome Center! We're so excited to see it come together as we dream up ways for the welcome center to be a true community hub. Thanks to the roofers who are working hard on this project

Become a member today, so that you, too, can take dramatic look-back modeling photos with our tote, just like our dear friend and park director Justin (It's easy! Visit www.fdrparkphilly.org/membership)

Sending out a thank you to our generous volunteer, Matt, for dropping off all this paint this morning! Get ready to see more colorful and creative hand-painted signage throughout the park! All your gifts and time are the best holiday presents Don't forget to contact us at bit.ly/FDRvolunteer if you'd like to work together to bring your ideas to life!

Why drive to FDR park when you can ride a horse?! We were happy to welcome The Original Concrete Cowboys from southwest Philly, and the Crazy Faith Riders from New Jersey, for a horse riding meet-up on this beautifully sunny winter day!

Not able/not feeling up to volunteering with us in person, but still want to give back to the FDR community? We've got you covered! Most of the fun art installations you've seen around the park have been made by, or in collaboration with, creative volunteers! If you're feeling crafty, help us make some birdhouses or signage from home! Or, if you've got some extra supplies laying around that you'd like to donate, we'll take that too! Be sure to contact Tara via email to coordinate details

Happy holiday season, dear Friends! This holiday looks different than any other year, but one thing that stays constant is that this beautiful green space is here for you to enjoy, no matter what. Here's a picture of League Island/The Lakes/FDR Park from many moons ago, offering the same solace and access to nature as it does now "Different" doesn't have to mean "bad," so be sure to say hello to a friend or a neighbor, treat yourself to something nice, and eat some delicious food!

Quick FAQ How do I reserve an area in the park to have my picnic/birthday celebration/other small, socially-distanced event? Permits are issued by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation! Please visit: https://www.phila.gov//use-a-philadelphia-parks-recreatio/ PLEASE be sure to read the new Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions and keep your gathering as safe as possible!... Can I reserve the new picnic grove by the entrance to the South Philly Woodlands? At this time, we are unable to accommodate reservations for private parties at this location, unfortunately. However, we are able to occasionally reserve the spot for community organizations to gather. Where are the South Philly Woodlands and how do I access the nature trails? Enter the park via the 20th street entrance, and park in the first parking lot on your left. You will see a red building with "Welcome to the South Philly Woodlands" painted on it! Below is a rough map of the trails. The outer "5K" loop is actually a little over 4 miles long; the interior loop is half a mile long. Hope this information helps!

If you missed our live video today, catch it here! Tara answers your questions and gives an inside look at what we're working on around the lake! Don't forget to sign up and get in on the fun bit.ly/FDRvolunteering

Celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the company of other park-loving staff and volunteers! We're having a day of service on Monday, January 18th focusing on cleaning up and beautifying the main loop of the park. Join us! MASKS and REGISTRATION are required! Events will be capped at ten participants to keep all of us safe! Bring waders if you've got 'em! If you don't, we'll provide some! Sign up at: bit.ly/MLKatFDR And if this is the first you're hearing of our MLK Day of Service, that must mean you aren't on our volunteer email list! Stay in the loop for future opportunities: bit.ly/FDRvolunteer

Not one, but TWO awesome reasons to be in the park tomorrow, Sunday October 25th (well, you know, in addition to all the dozens of other reasons to be at FDR Park on any given day...)! Join us at 9:30am for a guided tour through our nature trails with FDR Park staff! We know you've been wanting to check it out! Even if you've already been, join us anyway and learn something new. This walk is FREE, and registration is required at: bit.ly/FDRWoodlandTrails Join us from ...1-3pm with Lynn Landes of the Wild Foodies of Philly for a walk-and-talk discussing the medicinal aspect of plants and how to forage them! This experience is hosted by, and INCLUDES admission to, our friends at American Swedish Historical Museum! Admission is $10 for ASHM members and $15 for non-members, and registration is required at: https://www.americanswedish.org//fall-educational-walk-and See more

Thank you for visiting and for the shoutout, The Navy Yard!

Father and son volunteering their artistic skills to make these awesome new signs for the nature trails! The Deadwood Forest detour is a shortcut towards the back of the half mile loop, which allows you to access the larger 5K loop. Spot the sign close to the tree swings! Volunteering can look differently for everyone! Let's get creative about how we work together to make this space great We are so appreciative of everyone who has pitched in so far! Don't forget to reach out to us at bit.ly/FDRvolunteer

UPCOMING SUNDAYS AT FDR! Join us this Sunday 10/25 for a guided tour through the South Philly nature trails lead by FDR park staff. All ages + leashed dogs welcome! Register at: bit.ly/FDRWoodlandTrails After that, Wild Philadelphia will be taking over our Sunday mornings! They will be hosting their Autumn Wake Up: Forest Bathing Series, which focuses on how to therapeutically connect with nature + yourself. We're so grateful to host them here at FDR! Check it out and... register at: https://www.wildphiladelphia.com//autumn-wake-up-forest-ba You can register for as many or as few of these sessions as you like! November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 | 9 - 11am

Check out #1 on this list

Lots of folks have expressed interest in giving back to FDR lately, and we're so grateful! Our project manager, Tara, is here explaining three easy ways to jump in! 1) Sign up using our general interest form! Any and all skills welcomed, solo or with friends. This is a great way to get your youth or community group together too! Drop us a line at: bit.ly/FDRvolunteer 2) For the next three Saturdays from 11am-1pm, we will be hosting small group volunteer efforts. Check it out ...and register at: bit.ly/FDRsaturdays 3) #LoveYourPark Fall Service Day is November 14! This will be a larger volunteer effort. Registration required at: https://loveyourpark.givepulse.com/event/209015 Thanks for all the love and patience you've graced us with as we improve! The FDR community is the best

Happy car-free Sunday from the nature trails

Announcement! This Sunday, 10/18, will be another car-free Sunday! It's going to be a beautiful, mild fall day. We hope you'll join us by train, bus, bike, or skates! Parks on Tap will be closed, but they are open today (4-10pm) and tomorrow (12-10pm)! Catch them before the season is over! ... If you've signed up for our Sunday morning all-ages nature walks (registration required at bit.ly/FDRWoodlandTrails), we encourage you to use alternative transportation if possible. If that is not an option for you, please send us a message via Instagram or Facebook! Thank you for your patience and see you soon

Repost! Don't forget to check out our first all-ages guided nature tour this Sunday. Walks are a half-mile loop with majority of the path being unpaved. Bringing your binoculars and cameras is encouraged!

Registration for the #LoveYourPark fall service day opens TODAY! All across the city, friends and volunteers in partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and Fairmount Park Conservancy will be gathering to beautify Philadelphia's green spaces on Saturday, November 14. We hope you'll join us here at FDR Park from 10 AM - 12 PM! All supplies provided; just bring yourself (and a friend?)! Registration is required, so please be sure to fill out this quick form here: https://loveyourpark.givepulse.com//209015-Love-Your-Park-

at 10:30 am is our kick-off family nature walk through the FDR trails! Check out our kids' play space and get a guided tour through our meadows and forests with your little ones. Leashed dogs welcome! Make sure you register here: bit.ly/FDRFamilyWalks

Thank you to Oliver and volunteers for helping to trim our trees back by the golf club! There is space for all ages, skill sets, and interests if you'd like to get involved in giving back at FDR! From picking up trash, to weeding, to making signs and art, to planting and landscaping, to planning special events... We value all of our community members who work towards cultivating this beautiful space for all of us to share! Interested in getting plugged in? Fill out this quick Google form https://bit.ly/FDRvolunteering

Thanks to our awesome staff members, Tara and Martha, we are starting TWO new series of guided nature tours! We know the Woodland area is new to most, so we want to invite you to come out and enjoy the scenery with us! Both series are free, and you can attend as many as you'd like! Both will include walking a half-mile loop with some portions of the trail being grassy and unpaved. Leashed dogs welcome! SUNDAYS in October at 9:30 am, we will be hosting all-ages guided tours. ...Register here: http://bit.ly/FDRWoodlandTrails WEDNESDAYS until mid-November at 10:30 am, we will be hosting our family walks for guardians and children. Register here: http://bit.ly/FDRFamilyWalks Hope to see you soon!