Penn Treaty Park

Penn Treaty Park is a whole new vibe compared to when I was a kid. Back then, it was more of a simple,spot—nothing too flashy or fancy. Now? It’s been seriously upgraded with cleaner paths, better landscaping, and those killer river views that make you stop and stare. It’s like the city finally gave it the glow-up it deserved. Watching My Daughter run around there made me realize how much the place has evolved from a quiet patch of grass to a lively, welcoming space where families actually want to hang. Philly’s grown up, and so has Penn Treaty—thankfully for the better.

Great and spacious park next the Delaware River Trail. It si nice place to see the sun Rise. I hope Delaware River development Org need to revive the River water. It seems so dirt y it need to revive the water quality.

Nice place to get out and get some fresh air while taking in some nice views day and night

Great place to come with your friends for a picnic, a workout or simply to hang out. Always clean and plenty to do. Dog and kid friendly and on the weekends the vibe is always great

UPDATE: Penn Treaty Park was cleaned up and updated with better paths and more plantings. Crews clean it regularly. It would be great if everyone used the trash cans, but most do. My dog loves wading in the river and I enjoy seeing the tugboats bustling along the Delaware. Old review: Its a shame there is so much trash along the shoreline and throughout the park. Why can’t people use trash cans? This is a wonderful resource that’s historically significant, but its embarrassingly dirty.

Great, historic spot know to both locals as well as international visitors as well. Long thought to be the relative location were William Penn (Jr.) landed after arriving from England in 1682 and met and negotiated with the local clan of Native Americans setting up the future of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. While we don't know the exact spot...the park still serves the local community as a respite from the heat, smell, and busyness of modern urban life.

Nice park for families. Park includes shaded kids playground. Paved trail for biking, walking and running. Plenty of open field area for sport activities or outdoor meals. Parking is very limited. Plenty to see on the river. Also great park for dog.

Close to the water with breath taking views a block away from the highway yet very peaceful secluded and insulated from the traffic and noise. I attend the Indigenous Peoples Day Festival here yearly and look forward to the peace performancesnand natures beauty. The indigenous name of the park is Shacksmaxon and it is a legendary meeting place for the Lenape and many other groups over time

This is a great little park right off of Delaware Avenue. It's very convenient to Fishtown in Port Richmond. There's a small parking lot and also street parking. It has a small playground lots of green space benches along the water and walking paths. It's pretty clean It's an easy walk from here to Race Street pier It's not far from the casino which good if you have to use a restroom. Monday to Saturday Johnny hots is across the street where you can get cheesesteaks egg sandwiches, and a bunch of other stuff.

Penn Treaty is right off the Delaware river and is connected to the trail system. They kept the trails and the park clean. It is a popular spot amongst runners, bikers, and families. At any given time of day you will find people at this park. Enjoying the views of the Delaware river. There is also a parking lot right across the street you can enjoy and a playground for kids to enjoy. Overall a great park in Philadelphia for everybody to use.

This is a really cute park close to the water and has a nice play set. Would recommend in the area.

I love the park and the path. We live two blocks away from the park. My dogs love to run around the field every morning before the sunrise. It's so active here. Someone is always running or riding a bike. We love our city life.

I've had this place on my list to check out earlier this year and finally had the opportunity during our weekly family day on a Saturday. It was a hot and humid day so we thought it might be crowded so we decided to drive instead of walking in case we had to go somewhere else. Turns out there was tons of parking available mid day and the park wasn't crowded. There were people preparing for some sort of party, folks jogging, having a picnic, sitting on benches, and chasing children. We opted to walk around the path and take in the views. The views across the river was beautiful. And there were distinguishing paths for walking/running and biking. Our little one was excited but fell asleep during our walk only to wake up to the sounds and a sight of older children playing in the playground. If I were a child I would have a great time in the playground. The reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because once we were ending our time at the park we saw a bunch of needles and bloodied napkins. Clearly other activities happen there and all I can think of is how dangerous that is with children playing a few feet away. Not sure what can be done but would hope that won't be an in issue in the near future.

On some of my weekend walks I end up at Penn treaty park. The park that is named for being the location in which William Penn signed a peace treaty with the Lenape tribe. The Delaware River biking/walking trail goes right through the park. The park is generally quiet, with not much going on other than some kids playing at the playground. You can either sit in the park under the trees or at the waterfront looking out at the Delaware River. A nice place to sit and relax.

This park has been my go to since covid started. I would take my lunch break and walk through this park every day I was working from home when I lived in Northern Liberties. Now I live further away but made the walk down this past weekend. I adopted a dog during quarantine so my one complaint is that there is no dog park section/a lot of unleashed dogs so it's a little tricky bringing my dog here. I'll definitely be back and hopefully can enjoy this park a few more times before it's too cold.

This park is a treasure to have in Fishtown! Penn Treaty Park is for the tiniest human (children), to the furriest animals (dogs), to the people wanting fresh air and move their body (me), to the wisest of them all (our elderly beloveds). This park is for anyone needing to be blessed by nature. I love it! First, there's easy parking right next to the park -- which is an absolute plus to have in the city! It's scenic, has a lovely playground for the kiddos to play, so many places to just sit and chat or just feel/look at nature, people are able to bring their dogs to play/walk, picnic, read a book, etc. I desperately needed fresh air on this day (had a headache that would not go away) and just to walk around outside. It was serene on this particular morning. Definitely could have meditated too. A decent amount of people were walking around, talking and exercising. The view is wonderful! You can see the Ben Franklin Bridge, the water, trees, grass, and there's signs that the area is being renovated which is a plus. I enjoyed my visit on this beautiful sunny day. This park is great! I cannot wait to go back!

My wife and I came here today and we thought it was a decent park. We walked around, checked out the view from the waterfront (pretty nice!), and admired the grass, which is always a plus in the city :) Honestly, I know the park has a rich history, but I can't say I was particularly wowed by anything. I can imagine this place being a welcome reprieve from city life if you live nearby, but I wouldn't say it's mandatory to visit if you're checking out Philly on a daytrip.

It took me a couple of visits to Fishtown to get it. Penn Treaty Park was one of the first spots I checked out that made me realize that I dig the neighborhood. This small park is along the Delaware River and next to - of all things - a power plant. It's like industrial surroundings and then - boom - cute local park. When I visited, there were parents with their kids at the playground, and a few couples walking around. There was a dog and his owner playing frisbee. I checked out the view of Camden across the river, and the William Penn statue. You can't turn around in Philadelphia without encountering history, which is pretty cool. I drove there with my husband. There is a parking area, but it's small and it was full when we got there. We ended up parking the car in front of the power plant; our parking job was a little sketchy, but luckily the car was still there and not towed. Also, another FYI, there are no bathrooms at this park.

Haven't been here in years. Looks better than I remember still relaxing with some new additions still a great view of the river. Looking forward to seeing the new trees planted. Will definitely be back.

Pull up and picnic. It's a beautiful and clean park usually with a few families, some dogs, some older men fishing, and just people relaxing. You'll see people laying up on picnic blankets, playing fetch with dogs, kids playing in the small playground area, people doing yoga and running, etc. They also have a small parking lot and a few porta potty. Bring some snacks, some things to play with, a blanket and you good. Pick an open spot under the sun or a spot under a tree. And you good.

This park is the site of the peace treaty signed between William Penn and the Native Americans. It sits between the old Electric Company building and Sugarhouse Casino, which was built on top of another historic site that was highly contested, but money always seems to win in this world. During the summer months, this park is lively with picnickers, dogs, and children. I bring my dogs here to walk around and explore when I don't have enough time to go to the Wissahickon for a hike. I believe it's 10 acres, so not very large, but large enough for a quick stroll. There's a newly renovated playground that sits under the shade of old poplar trees. There is also a wonderful willow tree that I like to bring a blanket and lay under. Its position north of the downtown area lends to a great view of the Ben Franklin Bridge and the city skyline. I've been coming here for over 10 years and not much has changed in terms of the vibe. On nice days you will see locals fishing, though I wouldn't recommend it as reports say you should eat less than one fish a year from the Delaware River. I'm interested to see how things will change once they turn the Electric Company into condos.

I love this park i have been coming here for years and before i came here my mom and dad would come after there nights on the town when i was younger. Recently i went here set my blanket up with my hookah and games and had a Picnic with my friends with a great view under a tree that provided plenty of shade just An idea plenty of people came with hammocks and relaxed in them for a while so come on down and bring urs

I had come across this park years ago, and have always kept it in mind, but never got back around to getting there, that is until yesterday afternoon. I wanted to clear my mind and look at some scenery, which just so happens to be one of my favorite things to do. So I parked my car and got out for a walk. definitely a great space for dog walking, picnics, families, and kids (there is a park). Not a lot of trash floating around, which was surprising. A lot of dogs with their owners. I have to bring mine on my next trip. Awesome view of the ben franklin bridge. Ducks in the water by the openings, which was nice. LOTS of abundant, open space. Lots of grass, and I didn't see one pile of dog poop which means pet owners are acting responsibly.

I don't quite understand the raves but maybe this is what passes for natural beauty in a city? To me it looks mostly like a field between a casino and an abandoned power plant, with lots of trash on the shoreline and graffiti on the adjacent structures. The playground looked like fun though and there are couple nice old trees. My dog had a good time sniffing around in the driftwood and there are some pleasant places to sit to look at the river.

My first experience in Penn Treaty Park was going to see The War On Drugs play their incredible music in front of the Waterfront. So that's a winner already! But I also got to experience just how majestic this place is. Although it being tucked away in the armpit of the city (great description Jill!) Meant that it didn't have the traditional waterfront view of the city skyline that I'm so used to, It did mean that I had a rare waterfront view of Ben Franklin Bridge, as well as several schooners, and some -er- factories. At least the bridge and sailboats were pleasant to look at. The field was vast and stupendous! there were several people around us for the concert but you couldn't feel them near you at all. It might just be the perfect spot to do Yelpluck 2 because the possibilities of things to do inside it were endless. I might not be down for the other two concerts (Espers here or Kurt Vile at Rittenhouse?). But I look forward to spending many more occasions inside it!

Lush and green, this was a pleasant surprise. Tucked in an industrial section of town by the river (there's a huge old power plant on one side), this was an unexpected delight. There's a nice breeze off the river, trees and greenery block a lot of the scuzzier nearby views and you can also see the Benjamin Franklin bridge not too far off. Also close to that casino if you want to lose some money after enjoying nature. The grass is really nice here. I attended a beer festival and found myself hoping all the people wouldn't kill such a nice lawn.

It's a cool park and all but people need to learn that smashing beer bottles isn't cool. and for goodness sake people, PICK UP YOUR DOG CRAP! They need park officials there just to arrest drunk bottle smashers and people who think they are too good to pick up their dog's crap. Other than those two things, very cool views, lots of people fishing, a few homeless guys hang out there - very friendly. This is where I usually go to play some soccer with friends.

Very nice philly park, great for whatever lounging needs you might have. Large open lawn, plenty of people around (though never particularly crowded). Nice spot to stop by and watch the river for a bit, with a good view back towards the city skyline (or Camden...if you're into that). They have a few tables where you'll frequently find chess playing. Otherwise, just a large open space, good for kite flying, frisbee, picnics, anything of that nature. Ice cream truck stops by regularly during the summer, but otherwise no food joints in the immediate vicinity.

First time I came here was 6/20/15. A guy I used to work with told me about this park so I decided to come here so I can get some good pics of the Ben Franklin Bridge and other things. The park is really nice and it's pretty big. This is a park where you can relax, play with your dogs, have a BBQ, etc. They do have events here which is really not a problem.

A real surprise late on a summer night. Hispanic families enjoying the breeze on a hot evening. Great view of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the city behind it. The lights were great. I would never have gone there if the Yelpers hadn't recommended it. Thanks for the tip Kerry, Sara, Caroline, Jill and Bill.

I came here on a foggy Monday afternoon. My lover and I brought jars of capers, olives, and sardines (captains delight!). If I was to rate.this park on the quality of the dirt alone it would receive 5 stars - such a fluffy temperate dirt, one that makes one yearn for your sweaty youth by the river catching succulent chickadees below the willows to feed the neighbors shorthaired. Minus one star, for come the gloaming, mid-embrace, I spotted a husky silhouette nary the size and stature of a hairless raccoon to the west. The gremlin waddled towards us with the hobble of a club-footed daemon in a whirling dervish. Clumsy but determined it gurgled our way. We were left with no option but to flee, weighed down by the heavenly briney snacks we had so recently carelessly shoveled into one anothers mouths. Will be back soon.

Tucked away in the armpit of the city (I say that with the utmost love and devotion), Penn Treaty is a great spot for chillin' the heck out. Not to mention, um, taking part in the activities the community puts on here: Shadfest, Waterfront Wednesdays (free concerts! woo!), clean up days, etc. And for those romantics out there, it's a great date spot. The park definitely appeals to all walks of life: new-to-the-area-sort-of-upper-crust families, Fishtown teens looking for a place to do their teenager thing, office folks from the adjacent building, bike riders and runners taking a break ... the list goes on. Diversity is certainly present here (yay for that!) and, unless there's a big event, the park is never overly crowded. Awesome, huh? Two more things: PTP is pretty clean, thanks in part to the Friends of Penn Treaty Park organization, and being able to sit on the rocks right by the water is just goddamn cool.

Who knew such a lovely park existed on the Delaware Banks in Fishtown? I certainly didn't - at least, not until I attended the Fishtown RiverCity Festival on Saturday. That festival enabled me to see more of this section of the city than ever before, thanks to the 5K fun run that kicked off the event. An awesome beer tent and loads of food vendors provided sustenance as our group of yelpers chilled in the sun, chatting and laughing it up and making new friends along the way. The large expanse of freshly mowed grass and a clear view of the river felt far from Center City. I'm so happy every time I discover a new park within Philadelphia, and this was no exception.

This is my most favorite place in the entire city as of right now. Nestled right off Delaware avenue, this grossly underutilized and glorious park is always filled with diverse people and interesting scenery. My dog has the time of his life. It's great for grilling, picnicking, kite-flying, frisbee, wiffleball, setting off fireworks, smoking on the rocks, swinging in a hammock, strolling, and people-watching. And yes, as Brynn pointed out, for making out. Starting tomorrow, July 15, there will be bands playing there weekly as well. http://www.penntreatymusic.com/ for schedule. I guarantee you will enjoy your day there. Just please, clean up your trash!

This is a neat little park in philadelphia's redeveloping waterfront. The park offers some great views of the city's high rise buildings, penn's landing, and the ben franklin bridge. My girlfriend and I have a knack for planning low-cost activities (if it's free, it's for me), so Penn Treaty Park makes for a perfect day date (no shower required for the day date). If you have children, there's playground equipment that will keep the little rascals entertained for hours. And, close by the working river, you can watch ocean freighters and local tugs wend their way along the shipping channel close to the park's shoreline.

"As the evening sky faded from a salmon color to a sort of flint gray, I thought back to the salmon I caught that morning, and how gray he was, and how I named him Flint." My gal and I stopped in at this park on a pleasant Spring day this year and took in it's urban, trash-strewn lawn and beautiful view of Camden factories and Philly warehouses. If you live close, it is a nice place. If you live where I do, you're probably spoiled and prone to writing snarky comments about an otherwise nice place to hang out on a Saturday or Sunday.

Philly PA This is an incredibly beautiful spot where you can see the Ben Franklin bridge. Who would have thought? And there is a small parking lot making it really convenient. I think it is better than Penn's Landing sometimes!

I love that this park is huge and mostly open space, so visitors can spread blankets for picnics, kids can play catch or kick a ball around or generally frolic, and no one risks being in anyone else's way. There are paths winding through and benches to sit on, and all of that is very nice. I think it was going down near the water that gave me the creeps. There was graffiti on the wall, and tons of trash strewn amongst the rocks. It's hard to see a used condom on the ground and still think a park is all sunshine and butterflies. Still, I understand that it's difficult to keep a city park clean, and it's not like there was trash on the ground in the park proper, so I'm sure it's still a very nice place to come and spend some time while the weather is nice.

Beautiful park along the Delaware. My wife and I had our one year anniversary picnic here.

What else is there to say that hasn't been mentioned? This place is an urban oasis on the Delaware that doesn't get nearly enough props - and maybe that's a good thing. Clean, tons of green space, and plenty of shady spots for a hot summer day. I'll be seeing you a lot this summer, Penn Treaty.

Same as everyone else, this place is fantastic. The only advice I can give you is go late at night. I go there every once in a while around 2 am and there's very few people there sitting and relaxing or walking their dogs. It's a great time to sit on the rocks and look at how awesome the water looks from all of the lights on the bridge. It's also a great light show!

I've been here 2 or 3 times already (with the church).. and just realized that Penn Treaty Park is THAT park. lol.. Anyway.. last Sunday me and friends went to play frisbee around and just hang out enjoying the day after the church. A real clean park. Not too crowded. Awesome view. You can see lots of boats passing by. Lots of people with their dog. And it's very close to SugarHouse Casino hahaha... which I think that's a main reason why our church never have an outing to this park no more. I think I need to revisit this park at night.. I bet the view will be even more cool, with the lights from the bridge and all.. :D

Philadelphia is one of the top ten USA cities with the most park space- which seems unlikely until you consider all the small, quaint and awesome parks in the Fairmount Park Commission. One of these parks is Penn Treaty Park, which I discovered this weekend by attending the Rivercity Festival. This park is tucked away along the Delaware River, next to Fishtown and the Sugarhouse Casino. It's small, but has ample grassy space for a game of frisbee or a picnic. There are also multiple picnic benches and a playground for kids. It's a nice option for those of us who do not want to battle I-76 to get out to Fairmount Park on a sunny Sunday. This park will definitely be on my list of outdoor places to visit again on a beautiful day.

I stopped by here on Saturday morning after grabbing a breakfast sandwich at Johnny Hots. It was a nice day out, and there was an Easter egg hunt in full swing. Kids with baskets were scattered all around the field. Dozens more young kids and their parents were out walking around the park or enjoying lunch. Yet despite this family friendly vibe, a few elements of sketch lingered. Well, it is Philly, so what do you expect? The park itself is basically an open field that extends from Delaware Avenue to the river, interspersed with a few random trees. There are benches situated close to the river, so if there were no sketchy elements nearby, it could be a peaceful place to sit, enjoy the view of the Ben Franklin Bridge, and watch random boats pass by. When you visit this park you can truly understand the potential of the Philly waterfront...glance to your left at the abandoned power plant /factory however, and you see the reality of the Philly waterfront - acres upon acres of dilapidated, run-down, trashed and vandalized empty space. Surprisingly, the park itself seems somewhat maintained - I didn't see any trash, drug bags, or used needles during my brief visit there. Prior to my visit last Saturday, I had only been to this park one other time with friends for a picnic. It was pleasant enough, and the open space made for a great venue to play Bocce Ball. If I ever grab a sandwich at Johnny Hots again, this is a good place to sit and eat lunch. Other than that however, its not worth the trip. There are nicer parks in Philly.

Great park on the river! There's a playground and lots of grass to walk around or have a picnic. Visited for the first time today and there were tons of people BBQing, playing with their dogs, and just enjoying the weather. There is no enclosed space for dogs to run, so only let them off leash if you can trust them to refrain from eating people's food and chasing running kids.

Though the residents of nearby neighborhoods know all about this quaint little park, it is a pretty well kept secret. it's right by the river so you can go sit on the rocks and enjoy a sandwich and look out on passing boats and the bridge. it's never busy so you can lay in the grass without worrying about being trampled. it's always clean and well kept. this is my favorite place in the fishtown area to go relax when you need to get away but don't have time to ... you know... get away.

I run through here quite a bit. Let's get some things straight... this is a city park, so you will find snippets of trash as well as flotsam from the DE River. We aren't in the burbs in NJ... however, the views of the bridge and the wide open space are unparalleled for the NoLibs/Fishtown area. Shadfest is always a blast and this park always seems to attract families and BBQers. Lots of folks fish by the power plant and off the rocks... and the power plant does provide an interesting industrial backdrop to the place. As far as safety - the treed area by the power plant does get rather dark at dawn/dusk and can be daunting. I've personally never seen needles or condoms like other reviewers purportedly seen... and for that matter, never seen any Park Police either. It's a shame that, now that this is under Fairmount Parks Comission, more budget is not dedicated to this park because it could be spectacular. I'd set expectations accordingly when visiting. I'd give this place a 3.5... but yelp doesnt do half-stars.

This is one of the best, most undiscovered parks in the city! It's right on the Delaware River with unobstructed views of center city, the river, the BF bridge and Camden. Perfect spot for a little Sunday wine & cheese picnic. Oh, and it's also THE makeout destination for kids or other people who for whatever reason can't bring their love partner home. Highly recommended!

Penn Treaty Park at Columbia and Delaware Avenue is an oasis amidst the concrete and traffic along the waterfront. There is nothing like sitting on the rocks and looking across the water. It's a spacious park, but there is something about it that feels small and intimate.

This is my Zen! I promise you that this park is Magical, upon entering all problems, stresses and unhappy thoughts leave you. Smelling the aroma of the greens and the fresh dew, feeling the rays of the sun shining on your face and the breeze from the water whispering through your hair. Seeing the elder folks walking down the rolling paved lane to the river holding hands looking like "head over heels" in love teenagers , hearing the laughter of the children on the swings, one glance away a Father teaching his child how to ride a 2 wheeler, another glance a father & son playing catch. Then just a smudge beyond them squirrels playing tag, Dogs playing frisbee while the young lady lays on a blanket reading her novel, an aspiring film maker doing a scene a hop away from the sea wall looking out at the river and then there is my Kita and Sebastian thinking it's their own backyard dancing through all these Wonderful Life forms doing their own things but yet completing a "perfect"' setting that is nothing less then Phenomenal.......

Love this park! Lots of open space with friendly people looking to have a fun time. Playground for the kids. Ice cream truck is always parked on the side of the park. Lots of people fishing. Some benches and plenty of green space. Great views of the bridge and water. Only downside, there is no bathroom. This park is always busy and needs one.

This is an average too below average park. It doesn't have enough parking and the walk path isn't much. It wasn't well maintained and a little flooded, to be fair we went after recent rain the day before. There was a bum, seeming to be living there with his bum friends. The park has dogs off their leashes running around freely, which isn't really a concern for me and my family we like dogs just thought it was important to mention. Kids can play there and people were fishing there even though I wouldn't. The very best this this park has to offer is the view of the bridge and the connecting cities of Philly and Camden. It is a great view, and the highlight of the small park. We will probably return but other parks in the city are held higher on our list.

Great park, plenty of parking, waterfront, lots of space to stretch out or play in the grass, not far from Yard's Brewing Company! What more can you ask for in a park!?

My first and only Philly true love. I found you when I first moved to the river wards in Summer of 2008 and haven't grown tired of our relationship at now Summer of 2013. We've had our rough times...the winters of drinking vodka out of wawa cups in the mid afternoon during stretches of joblessness and our excellent times of late summer nights showing you off to out of town acquaintances. I love your view of the city which I never get tired of, your constantly changing cast of characters, and your general underratedness. Stay the same.

A nice park with lots of space to hang out, and a great (in theory) view of the Delaware, though it is a bit more rough than lush. The grass is not too well kept and trees are annoyingly set up to block you from having a continuous180 degree view of the waterfront. You can only see it through the gaps between trees. If I were mayor I'd re-landscape this place, but it has a good crowd and great potential.

I love this park. It's 2 blocks from my house and gives me a pretty place to sit and read. The festivals they put on here are a ton of fun. You also get a front row view of the Delaware, which at the right time of day is as pretty and blue as any body of water I've ever seen.

This park is great! So close to home, many places to sit, wide open spaces, and never too crowded. Bonus: in the summer there is almost always a Mister Softee parked in the (small) parking lot