FDR Park Brunch and Tour

Join Dean Fritz Steiner and members of the Penn Weitzman Alumni Association (PWAA) for a special brunch and guided tour at FDR Park with fellow alumni. 

The morning will begin at the American Swedish Historical Museum, where guests will enjoy brunch and a presentation about the park’s history and ongoing transformation. Following brunch, participants will take part in an exclusive behind-the-scenes walking tour of FDR Park. 

Tours and speaker sessions will be led by Tony Sorrentino, MCP’05, CEO, Fairmount Park Conservancy; Charlie Neer, MLA’99, Principal, WRT; and Alison Schapker, Chief Operations & Projects Officer, Fairmount Park Conservancy. 

The one-hour walking tour will highlight the park’s innovative green infrastructure projects designed to reduce flooding and manage stormwater. Participants will visit the award-winning Anna C. Verna Playground, explore the newly renovated Welcome Center, and walk through areas dedicated to ecological restoration, including the park’s 33-acre wetland and bird sanctuary.  

The tour will conclude near the vibrant Southeast Asian Market. Along the way, guests will experience the park’s sculptural elements and artistic flourishes that continue the picturesque landscape tradition established by the Olmsted Brothers. 

Please note: The event will begin at The American Swedish Historical Museum and conclude at the Southeast Asian Market. Registration is required to attend. 

About FDR Park: 

FDR Park in South Philadelphia was originally wetlands and marshes separated from the city by Hollander Creek. From the late 1700s to early 1900s, the land was drained and filled for farming and development. In 1913, the Olmsted Brothers designed League Island Park, creating a scenic landscape with curving paths, open fields, and tidal lakes, earning the nickname “The Lakes.” In 1926, the park hosted the Sesquicentennial Exposition, adding structures like Municipal Stadium and the American Swedish Historical Museum. Later developments included the Stadium District and a golf course. Renamed Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park in the 1940s, it also gained the independently maintained FDR Skatepark in 1996. 

If you have questions or need assistance, please e-mail weitzman-alumni@design.upenn.edu.