Fairmount Park Digital Guide: Concourse Lake
Your guide to discovering Concourse Lake and beyond in West Fairmount Park
Concourse Lake in West Fairmount Park was officially dedicated as a Philadelphia Native Plant Park on June 9, 2012, and today the reservoir helps to better filter water on its way to the Schuylkill River.
But before it was a native wetland, the land was once home to the the mammoth Machinery Hall as part of the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. Today, 142 native trees of 24 various species and 503 shrubs of 24 different species have been planted at the 14-acre site surrounding Concourse Lake.
This map features an overlay of the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. You can see the outline of the Machinery Building over Concourse Lake.
Start Your Journey
Begin your exploration of Concourse Lake and beyond at our Concourse Lake Park Hub, located at Belmont Avenue and S. Concourse Drive in West Fairmount Park. ( Directions )
From here, you can explore nearby gems:
- Centennial Arboretum (5 min walk)
- Michaux Grove (8 min walk)
- Stone Gazebo (8 min walk)
This Park Hub includes a portable restroom.
View all Park Hubs by clicking the points on the map below.
Fairmount Park Hubs
Discover Concourse Lake
We hope this guide will lead you on a path to discover the less-traveled features at and nearby Concourse Lake in West Fairmount Park.
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Concourse Lake
Concourse Lake in West Fairmount Park is a 14-acre Philadelphia Native Plant Park that features 142 native trees of 24 various species and 503 shrubs of 24 different species. There is a paved walking path around the entire lake as well as benches for rest, contemplation, and bird watching.
Swipe for a photo of the lake from 1900, courtesy of the Library of Congress.
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Centennial Lake
Located not far from Concourse Lake, Centennial Lake was originally a wetland that was turned into a lake for the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. During the Exhibition, the Statue of Liberty’s torch was displayed at the edge of the lake.
It is fed by a springs that flows into the lake’s west and north ends and ultimately runs to the Schuylkill River. Centennial Lake is a designated wetland and preserve because of the presence of the springs, which keep the soil wet year-round.
Swipe to see a historic photo of the lake from 1905 courtesy of the Free Library of Philadelphia Print and Photo Collection, as well as an image of the Statue of Liberty's arm on display during the Exhibition.
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Stone Gazebo
The Stone Gazebo is a popular photo opp, especially when the weeping cherries are in bloom in the spring. It's located along what's known as Strawberry Fields, which stretches from the Centennial Arboretum to the Catholic Total Abstinence Fountain. This walk dates from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition.
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Smith Memorial Arch
Smith Memorial Arch in West Fairmount Park is a towering public sculpture that honors Pennsylvania’s Civil War heroes. It took 15 years to finish. Today it remains an iconic gateway to the park.
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Michaux Grove
Located on the grounds of the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center between Montgomery Drive and Belmont Avenue is Michaux Grove , a little-known grove of oaks that dates back to the Centennial Exhibition of 1876.
The grove of oaks was planted in 1870 in honor of world-renowned father-and-son botanists Andre and Francois André Michaux.
Over the years, invasive and non-native species overtook the grove, but in recent years it has been transformed as part of a forest restoration project led by Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
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Centennial Arboretum
The Centennial Arboretum at Fairmount Park Horticulture Center was the botanical garden for the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. There are many noteworthy trees on the grounds, dating back to the exhibition – in fact, some of the ginkgo trees are the mother trees to other cultivated ginkgoes throughout the country.
In April, the Cherry Allée (shown here) blooms pink in time for the Cherry Blossom Festival hosted by Shofuso Japanese House and Garden. These trees were donated in 2003 by the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia as part of a campaign to plant 1,000 trees by 2007. It is a spectacular sight in spring when they all flower at once!
100 N. Horticultural Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19131
Explore Trails in the Centennial District
Click each button below to view the individual trail route on the map. Zoom in for a close-up look at each route. Pinpoints designate trail heads.
Lansdowne Glen Trail on the grounds of the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center.
- Length: ~0.7 miles
- Terrain: Soft-surface
- Level: Easy, some rolling hills
Smith Memorial Arch along the Centennial 5K Loop
- Length: 3.1 miles
- Terrain: Paved
- Level: Easy, flat
Help keep Fairmount Park's trails beautiful by taking trash with you.
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Explore more areas in Fairmount Park:
Know Before You Go
Follow social distancing guidelines in Philly parks
Wear a facemask when enjoying Philly parks. Courtesy of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
- Do not go out if you or members of your household are self-quarantining or do not feel well. Know the symptoms.
- Wear a facemask.
- Stay at least six feet from others.
- Avoid gathering with people outside of your household.
- Wash or sanitize hands before and after using play equipment. Parks & Rec will not be able to clean or sanitize play equipment while it is in use.
- Use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol or wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.
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