Girard Park

Stephen Girard Park is another green space located within a South Philadelphia neighborhood. The park was named after the famous Stephen Girard, who was a merchant, financier, and philanthropist within Philadelphia's history. His country house, a 580 acre farm, is what is pictured above and is within the park. It's surrounded by large trees, a statue of Girard, park benches, and a connection of walkways. 

If you appreciate the smaller things in life...

• The park isn't as small as Capitolo Playground, but it's not as large as Rittenhouse Square.  
• It is surrounded by upscale row homes, but it's not surrounded by high rises, like Rittenhouse.
• Fortunately, you are able to jog through the park or ride your bike without bumping into anyone. It's not as crowded as Rittenhouse can be. 

If you're an architecture fan...

• The Girard farm house is a piece of the 18th century architecture. It still stands today within the park.
• The homes that surround the park have their own unique history. According to a Philly.com article, the homes were built as the turn of the 20th century. The majority of the "semidetached" houses consist of porches, yards, and large rooms, which make them different from the usual rowhomes within South Philadelphia. They used to act as rentals because the rental money would go toward Girard College. Then they were rented to soldiers during WWII; however, they soon went on sale after 1952. 
• The houses bring a different vibe to the park. It's almost as if the park was picked up in the middle of nowhere and placed in South Philadelphia.

  If you would like to find out more information about Stephen Girard, click here!