Wildwood Park (Pennsylvania)
Encyclopedia
Wildwood Park is a public park in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
. The 210 acre park is known for its 90 acre shallow lake and over 6 miles of trails. The park is within the city of Harrisburg; however, it is administered and maintained by the Dauphin County
parks department. The park runs parallel to the Paxton Creek
, a tributary
of the Susquehanna River
, on the northern side of Harrisburg and adjacent to the main campus of HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College. Wildwood Park is also part of the Capital Area Greenbelt
.
, a nationwide reform effort conceived by social reformers to build civic loyalty and a sense of community among urban dwellers. In 1964, the city deeded 157 acres of the park to Harrisburg Area Community College for the construction of a campus and academic buildings. In 1976, the Dauphin County
Commissioners and Harrisburg City Council
agreed to the Wildwood Park transfer agreement, and the park was acquired by the county for the princely sum of $1.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
. The 210 acre park is known for its 90 acre shallow lake and over 6 miles of trails. The park is within the city of Harrisburg; however, it is administered and maintained by the Dauphin County
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Dauphin County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of the three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 census, the population was 268,100. The county includes the city of Harrisburg, which has served as the state capital...
parks department. The park runs parallel to the Paxton Creek
Paxton Creek
Paxton Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania in the United States.The Paxton Creek watershed covers an area of and joins the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg....
, a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
, on the northern side of Harrisburg and adjacent to the main campus of HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College. Wildwood Park is also part of the Capital Area Greenbelt
Capital Area Greenbelt
The Capital Area Greenbelt is a long green belt around urbanized portions of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, linking many city neighborhoods, parks and open spaces. For several miles, between Shipoke and Uptown, the Greenbelt follows the east bank of the Susquehanna River...
.
History
In 1901, the City of Harrisburg established Wildwood Lake as part of the City Beautiful movementCity Beautiful movement
The City Beautiful Movement was a reform philosophy concerning North American architecture and urban planning that flourished during the 1890s and 1900s with the intent of using beautification and monumental grandeur in cities. The movement, which was originally associated mainly with Chicago,...
, a nationwide reform effort conceived by social reformers to build civic loyalty and a sense of community among urban dwellers. In 1964, the city deeded 157 acres of the park to Harrisburg Area Community College for the construction of a campus and academic buildings. In 1976, the Dauphin County
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Dauphin County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of the three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 census, the population was 268,100. The county includes the city of Harrisburg, which has served as the state capital...
Commissioners and Harrisburg City Council
Harrisburg City Council
The Harrisburg City Council, is the legislative branch of the city government of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and consists of seven members elected at-large. The council president is elected by the members and presides over the Council meetings. In the event of illness or absence of the President, the...
agreed to the Wildwood Park transfer agreement, and the park was acquired by the county for the princely sum of $1.
External links
- Wildwood Park (Official site)
- Dauphin County government: Wildwood Park profile