Starr Garden Playground
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Starr Garden Playground is a historic, community-focused oasis in the heart of Philadelphia, known for its lively and welcoming atmosphere. It offers significant shade from large trees, making it a comfortable spot even in summer, and features unique community-created art installations. It functions as a versatile community hub, combining traditional playground elements with extensive sports facilities.
Key Highlights
- ✓Fosters a truly fantastic, lively, and welcoming atmosphere created by the community and staff.
- ✓Provides abundant shade in the summer thanks to large, mature trees ringing the park.
- ✓Features unique and colorful community-created art, such as crocheted stars and creatures on chain-link fences.
- ✓Includes dedicated sports facilities: basketball courts and a large grassy field for baseball and youth soccer games.
- ✓Popular for traditional playground equipment, with swings being a particular favorite among children.
- ✓Generally kept pretty clean, with community 'Love your Park' volunteers contributing to upkeep.
- ✓Recognized as Philadelphia's first playground, adding a historical charm.
Standout Features
- ⭐Extensive natural shade provided by large trees, particularly valuable during warm months.
- ⭐Comprehensive sports facilities: basketball courts and a large grassy field for youth sports.
- ⭐Unique and artistic community-created decorations, including crocheted figures and metal sculptures.
- ⭐A youth recreation center is part of the park's offerings.
- ⭐Designated picnic areas available for families.
- ⭐Dog-friendly policy, allowing on-leash dogs.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Plan visits for cooler comfort on hot days, leveraging the extensive tree shade.
- →If your children enjoy traditional swings and open spaces for running, this park is a good fit.
- →Bring sports equipment (basketballs, soccer balls) if your children are interested in using the courts or field.
- →Be aware of and prepared for potential bee activity, especially in grassy or flowering areas.
- →Manage expectations regarding the modernity and safety surfacing of the playground equipment.
- →Utilize the picnic areas for packed lunches or snacks, as no specific food vendors are mentioned.
- →Ensure dogs are kept on a leash if visiting with a pet.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Playground equipment (jungle gyms, slides) is over 10 years old, needing updates for enhanced safety, appearance, and engagement.
- ⚠The ground surface beneath the playground equipment is cracked and dirty, lacking essential cushioning for children's safety.
- ⚠Bathrooms require better upkeep and cleanliness to improve the overall experience.
- ⚠Some visitors have reported a notable presence of bees flying around.
- ⚠Current jungle gyms and slides may not be sufficiently engaging for all children due to age and lack of modern updates.
Price & Value
Free entry for all visitors. Offers significant value as a public park providing multiple amenities and a strong community atmosphere without any cost.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •The park is friendly for on-leash dogs.
- •No specific mention of wheelchair accessibility for playground equipment or other special needs accommodations.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Picnic areas are available, strongly implying that outside food and drinks are permitted and encouraged for families.
🚗Parking Info
- •No dedicated parking lot is mentioned in the reviews.
- •Parking likely consists of street parking in the surrounding residential Philadelphia neighborhood (600 Lombard St), which may require searching.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Described as having a 'high number of children that visit,' contributing to a 'lively and welcoming atmosphere.'
- •Implies it can be busy, especially on pleasant weather days, though no specific peak hours or days are detailed.
🛡️Safety Features
- •A notable safety concern is the 'cracked and dirty' ground surface under play equipment, which lacks proper cushioning.
- •No explicit mention of dedicated staff monitoring play areas or specific security measures.
- •Community involvement through 'Love your Park' volunteers contributes to general park upkeep and cleanliness, indirectly impacting safety.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If a modern playground with new, highly cushioned ground surfaces is a top priority.
- • If consistently pristine and well-maintained public restrooms are a must-have for your family.
- • If your child has an allergy or strong aversion to bees.
- • If you are seeking state-of-the-art or highly innovative play structures, as equipment is over 10 years old.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Rules and regulations are in place to keep Parks & Recreation properties clean and safe.
- • Dog regulations and best practices are available (details not provided).
- • Trail regulations are available (details not provided).
- • For Drop-in Archery: All equipment is provided; no outside bows allowed.
- • For Drop-in Archery: Certified instructors are present.
📅Booking Policy
- • Permits are recommended for all events in Parks & Recreation spaces.
- • Permits can be obtained for: picnics, large events/festivals, Friends and community group events, wedding ceremonies/photos, trails, facility/field reservations, venue rentals, and media permits.
- • For Drop-in Archery: Pre-registration is not necessary; walk up, first come, first served.
Photos
What People Say
What's Great
- Safe environment for children (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Ms B
a month agoThe people, staff, and kids at the park are truly fantastic, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere. However, considering the high number of children that visit, it would be wonderful to see some updates made to the playground. It has been over 10 years since it was last refreshed, and some improvements could enhance both safety and appearance. For instance, a cushioned ground surface would greatly benefit the children, as the current area is quite cracked and dirty. Additionally, updating the jungle gyms and slides could provide more engaging activities for kids to enjoy. Lastly, enhancing the upkeep of the bathrooms would also contribute to a more pleasant experience for everyone. Overall, with a few thoughtful upgrades, this park could further reflect the vibrant community it serves.
Eric P
5 years agoThis is lovely little park. I used to live right on Rodman, loved having a park right there. Fast forward a few years, I don't live there anymore but I having gone with my child. She loves running around and playing on all the equipment. I loved the weird thing creature that was sewn/ crocheted into the chain link fence. Love the metal sculptures trying to pull the wall away from the building. Daughter loved the swings. They keep the place pretty clean. Love that they have basketball courts and a baseball field for kids to play sports in.
C C
2 weeks agoA good, family friendly place to take your children for activities. The bees flying around are a bit much, though.
Barb Hauck-Mah (barbhmphilly)
5 years agoStarr Garden features a playground, basketball court, a youth recreation center, and a large grassy field used mainly for youth and neighborhood soccer games. It's a cool shady spot in the summer, thanks to the large trees that ring the park. Twice a year, we join other Love your Park volunteers to rake leaves and help spruce it up. There's an afterschool arts program that has created colorful crocheted stars and a ballerina that grace the chain link fences. Starr Garden is friendly for on-leash dogs.
Anwar M Hossain
11 months agoStarr Garden Playground is a delightful oasis in the heart of Philadelphia! Located at 600 Lombard St, it’s the city’s first playground, offering a slice of outdoor fun for everyone. With its lush green spaces and playground equipment, it’s a favorite for families and children. The park also provides basketball courts for sports enthusiasts and picnic areas for those seeking relaxation. Open daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, it’s a community hub where laughter and joy fill the air, and memories are made under the open sky. Whether you’re swinging on the monkey bars or enjoying a peaceful break, Starr Garden Playground is a beloved Philly spot that can’t be missed!