About Us

The Schuylkill River Park Community Garden (SRPCG), located at about 25th and Spruce, contains around 70 plots (satellite image) that range in size from 10’ x 10’ to 10’ x 20’. The land is owned by the City of Philadelphia / Fairmount Park Commission and leased to the Center City Residents' Association (CCRA), which manages the Garden through a steering committee comprised of current Gardeners. In addition to tending their plots, Gardeners are responsible for attending two to three work days per season and assisting with the Garden's public maintenance.

SRPCG, started in 1982, stands on land that was initially very unpromising for a park and garden: the Kelly brickyard and old B&O Railroad Sidings. Originally, the B&O railroad station, underneath the Walnut Street Bridge, provided passenger service from Philadelphia to NYC. In 1982, pioneer gardeners staked out their plots, dug out rocks and construction debris, added large amounts of compost and top soil, and filled 55 gallon drums with water from the fire hydrant across 25th Street.

In 1988, thanks to the vision and hard work of many CCRA members, the support of Park Commissioner Ernesta Ballard, the advocacy of landscape architect John Collins, and funds from the City of Philadelphia / Fairmount Park Commission, a larger area was developed into the beautiful SRPCG as part of the recently completed Schuylkill River Park.

As part of its 1988 agreement with the city and in an effort to beautify the park, the SRPCG maintains an approximately 350' perennial border directly adjacent to the Park and outside of the garden fence. The chairs of the Parkside Plantings Committee are responsible for the overall design and the movement and planting of all material in the border. Additional volunteers from the garden and the community assist with the general upkeep of this substantial undertaking.

In January 2007, the Garden officially became part of the Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Gardens.  We were nominated by the Weeders' Chapter of the Garden Club of America for inclusion and at that time more than 300 other gardens were being considered out of which only approximately 30 were chosen.

In Spring 2009, the Garden joined PHS' City Harvest Program, which ultimately produces food that is donated to local food cupboards. The process starts in Philadelphia Prisons, where inmates grow seeds into seedling plants. These plants are distributed to area community gardens who grow them into produce. The produce is donated by gardeners to local food cupboards, who in turn distribute the food to those in need.  We are grateful to our partners in this project, The Philadelphia School and Trinity Playgroup.

We invite you to explore the website, visit the SRPCG, and avail yourself of the online resources for gardeners we have compiled.