Join Philadelphia Parks and Recreation for a behind-the-scenes look at a 40-year success story in municipal innovation. This tour demonstrates how one of the nation’s largest park systems integrates waste diversion, reforestation and urban agriculture into a self-sustaining "circular" economy.
Highlights:
Organic Recycling: Industrial-scale conversion of organic waste into premium compost and mulch
Reforestation Hub: A partnership turning fallen city trees into saleable lumber and useful products
Greenland Nursery: See how the team uses recycled sawdust to propagate native plants for city-wide restoration projects.
Bennett Compost Partnership: A first-of-its-kind collaboration composting food scraps from 100+ recreation centers, diverting 150 tons of waste annually
Urban Agriculture: Discover how Farm Philly uses these recycled outputs to support 450+ community gardens, advancing local food sovereignty and climate resilience.
Spend a morning visiting the 348-acre FDR Park in South Philadelphia with Fairmount Park Conservancy, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and local design firm WRT to get a behind-the-scenes look at the implementation of the FDR Park Plan. Learn about the history of this 348-acre park built by the Olmsted brothers and the today’s effort to reclaim the historic vision of the park, restore its environmental functions and nurture its role as a cultural, recreational and economic centerpiece that hosts more than 4 million annual visitors. Visit the largest public-facing environmental restoration project in Philadelphia, learn about the robust engagement process and the resulting work to date, and the benefits and challenges of public-private partnerships. Close out the tour with a paddle on the new heron boats on Meadow Lake.
Explore Philadelphia's 2040-acre "National Park." The Friends of the Wissahickon's (FOW) dedicated community of members and volunteers have supported the wild beauty of the park since 1924. Staff and volunteers work with expert contractors and environmental scientists to mitigate stormwater runoff, reduce erosion and address the impacts on the native habitat posed by climate change.
Tour highlights include:
The $3.5 million Valley Green Run Restoration featuring new signature landmark Lida Way Pedestrian Bridge
Forbidden Drive, the Wissahickon’s primary arterial trail, named 2018 Trail of the Year by PA DCNR
Valley Green Inn, the Wissahickon’s last remaining roadhouse from the 19th century industrial era
Devil's Pool, a natural water feature whose popularity brings challenges with litter, graffiti and ecological degradation
Pachella Field, a popular recreation area and trailhead with a WPA-era pavilion and surrounding trails that are part of an upcoming restoration project.
Explore the innovative collaborations reshaping West Philadelphia. This tour showcases how "braided" funding from the Rebuild Philadelphia program, William Penn Foundation, DCNR and Knight transforms aging infrastructure into high-impact civic hubs. Join staff from parks and recreation, the Capital Program Office and Fairmount Park Conservancy to go behind the scenes of these transformations.
Tour Highlights:
Alain Locke School: See how TPL and Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) reimagined an asphalt lot into a green community oasis.
Rebuild Philadelphia Anchors: Visit Kingsessing Recreation Center and Library, Vare and the Cobbs Creek/Johnny Sample campus to see how massive public-private investments modernize neighborhood anchors.
Civic Commons and Bartram’s Garden: Explore the Reimagining the Civic Commons model at this 45-acre botanical landmark.
Discuss social fairness through "fun" via kayaking or biking along the Schuylkill.
The Takeaway: Analyze how interagency teamwork and various funding streams create resilient, fair, "people-first" social infrastructure.
Join Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (PPR) and Fairmount Park Conservancy for an inside look at the birthplace of Philly’s park system. Home to the Schuylkill River Trail and Boathouse Row, this tour explores the interplay of history, nature, art, culture and community in public space, with a focus of the establishment of the city’s 2,052-acre Fairmount Park.
Highlights:
Centennial Origins: Start at Please Touch Museum to see the 1876 Centennial Exhibition model that defined this landscape
Cultural Icons: Explore the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, the Discovery Center and Lemon Hill
Ecological Roots: Enjoy lunch at the Horticulture Center before a guided bus tour through the park's history, featuring Belmont Plateau and the historic park houses
Learn how PPR and the Conservancy collaborate with other partners to manage iconic cultural institutions and ecological assets, and analyze recent investments that keep this massive urban forest resilient and relevant for today’s neighbors.
Head out to the beautiful countryside of southeastern Pennsylvania for this behind-the-scenes look at Washington Crossing Historic Park, managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Washington Crossing Historic Park preserves the site of George Washington's dramatic boat crossing of the Delaware River during the American Revolution and is a National Historic Landmark.
This tour will highlight the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources's (DCNR) dual mission: preserving the sacred ground of the 1776 crossing while maintaining modern recreational infrastructure. The site also includes a segment of the Delaware and Lehigh (D&L) Canal Towpath, a premier example of a multi-use trail corridor. We'll discuss the DCNR's management of the 59-mile Delaware Canal section, focusing on historic masonry preservation, trail connectivity and the integration of the National Heritage Corridor into local park systems. A must-see for insights into large-scale heritage resource management.
Trace the transformation of the Schuylkill River from a 19th-century industrial conduit to a premier recreational corridor. This tour unpacks the intersection of municipal policy, environmental restoration and civil engineering.
Highlights include:
Fairmount Waterworks (1815): Analyze the origins of watershed protection. Follow the facility’s trajectory from a critical public health necessity to an engineering marvel and its eventual adaptive reuse as a modern recreational hub.
Engineering and Restoration: Examine the 1940s Schuylkill River Project — the first major environmental cleanup of its kind — and the subsequent structural solutions that navigated tight riverbanks to build today’s continuous trail.
Strategic Lessons: Discuss the logistical realities of large-scale land acquisition and the long-term vision required to turn "black water" industrial corridors into thriving public amenities.
Gain actionable insights for your own municipal planning and greenway development.
Discover the transformative journey of the Schuylkill River, tracing its path from a hub of 19th century engineering to today’s vibrant recreational corridor.
Highlights include:
Fairmount Waterworks (1815): Once a cutting-edge engineering marvel that powered the city, it has reinvented itself over two centuries — from a water plant to an aquarium, a public pool and now your starting point.
The Boardwalk: When the riverbanks got too tight for a path, engineers looked to the water. This 2,000-foot floating masterpiece bypasses the cliffs and tracks to give you the city’s best, uninterrupted skyline views.
The Swing Bridge: A triumph of modern design. Watch it pivot 90 degrees to let boats pass, serving as the essential link between Center City and Southwest Philly.
Bartram’s Garden: Your grand finale. As North America’s oldest botanical garden, this 50-acre oasis reminds us why we protect this river: to preserve the beauty that started it all.
Join the Independence Historical Trust for an inside look at how strategic public-private collaboration strengthens Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park. As the park’s official philanthropic partner, the Trust raises private funds and delivers capital projects that enhance the home of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.
Key Case Studies:
The First Bank of the United States: Insights into the complex restoration and reopening of this landmark
Benjamin Rush Garden: Stewardship of the Bicentennial Bell as a vibrant civic green space
Sustainability: Modernizing iconic sites, such as installing solar infrastructure at the Liberty Bell Center
Explore how the Trust aligns with the National Park Service to manage fundraising, corporate relationships and educational programming. This session offers a practical model for foundations and "friends" groups to unlock philanthropic investment and deliver projects that serve both the local community and the nation.
Join the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) for a guided walking tour of Philadelphia’s transforming Central Delaware Waterfront.
Spruce Street Harbor Park: Discover how early "pop-up" activations and creative placemaking turned this site into a national model for civic gathering and vibrant seasonal programming.
Penn’s Landing Park: View construction of the massive 12-acre cap over I-95. Learn about the design, community engagement and engineering required to reconnect the city to the river.
RiverRink Summerfest/Winterfest: See how flexible infrastructure converted a standard parking lot into a year-round destination for skating and public life.
Cherry and Race Street Piers: Explore adaptive reuse at Cherry Street Pier’s artist studios and see how Race Street Pier’s high-quality design catalyzed more than $1B in private investment.
This tour highlights the master plan’s impact on creating a resilient waterfront for all through strategic partnerships.
Set against the backdrop of Philadelphia’s iconic skyline, this kayaking tour offers a unique "water-level" perspective on the evolution of the Schuylkill River. From its origins as a life source for the native Lenape to its era as an industrial powerhouse, participants will navigate the literal and figurative currents of urban change. The journey begins at the Fairmount Dam, exploring the ambitious 19th century vision to protect the city’s water supply, before drifting into the industrial corridor where rail lines and infrastructure once dominated the landscape. You will see firsthand how 20th century reclamation efforts transformed a polluted waterway into a premier recreational destination, anchored by the Schuylkill River Trail and the striking new Crescent Bridge.
Jump into 300 years of planning history on a fast-paced trek from City Hall to the Art Museum. We’re tracing the evolution of William Penn’s 1682 "Holy Experiment" into a modern, multi-modal playground.
Tour Highlights:
Grid Meets Green: See how Thomas Holme’s original squares — Center and Logan — transformed into high-energy hubs at Dilworth and Love Park.
Corridor Creative - See how Sister Cities Park and MSB Plaza use clever design to invite the public back into the city’s transit and business heart.
The Power of the Pop-Up: Analyze how agile hits like the Oval and Parks on Tap bypass rigid infrastructure to spark immediate community activity.
The Management Mix: Hear from CCD, PPR and OTIS about the funding and collaboration needed to flip the script on auto-centric design.
The Takeaway: Get the scoop on moving beyond static plans to create resilient, "people-first" realms. We wrap at the art museum to see how these solutions keep a historic city moving.
0.1 CEUs
Local Host Committee (LHC) Events
Philadelphia Swag Store
Are you headed to the 2026 NRPA Annual Conference in Philadelphia? Want some cool merch for yourself or your team? Check out our online store!
Place your order by September 4 for pick-up at the LHC Booth during conference registration hours. We will have limited inventory available onsite, but to guarantee you get the products and sizes you want, order today. We also partnered with Art Star to showcase a variety of local gifts available for purchase by local Philly artists. Items will be available at the LHC Booth in the Convention Center.
Golf Tournament
Monday, September 28 | 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Cost: Member: $130 / Nonmember: $130
Join us at John F. Byrne Golf Club! It doesn’t matter if you’re Rory McIlroy or Happy Gilmore, everyone is invited to come out to enjoy the game and make new friends. Tournament will be played in 4-person team scramble style with a 8:15 a.m. shotgun start.
Philly Parks 5K Run, Walk or Roll
Thursday, October 1 | 7 – 10 a.m.
Cost: Member: $45 / Nonmember: $45
Kick off your morning with the Philly Parks 5K — a casual run open to all paces along the Schuylkill River. Meet fellow NRPA attendees, enjoy scenic river views, and start your conference day with fresh air and movement along one of Philadelphia’s most popular park corridors.
The race starts at 7 a.m. on Martin Luther King Jr Drive just to the south of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Meet us at the start line or catch a shuttle bus from the Convention Center at 6 a.m. Please register by Wednesday, September 2, to guarantee that you receive a t-shirt. The first 250 registrants are guaranteed a finishers medal.
Local Host Committee Closing Event: Royal Flush Finale
Thursday, October 1 | 6:30 – 10 p.m.
Cost: FREE (ticket required)
Step into the ultimate conference finale at Parks & Rec Casino Night! Enjoy Vegas-style games, signature cocktails, prizes and dancing! Celebrate, connect and make memories at the Royal Flush Finale, where everyone’s a winner!
Exploring Public Art in the Mural Capital of the World
Monday, September 28 | 9:45 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Cost: Member: $45 / Nonmember: $65
Discover why Philadelphia is the “Mural Capital of the World” on a guided walk with Mural Arts Philadelphia. Explore Center City’s Mural Mile, featuring powerful works like Untitled by Amy Sherald that showcase four decades of community-driven public art.
Inside the Linc: Philadelphia Eagles Stadium Tour
Monday, September 28 | 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Cost: Member: $45 / Nonmember: $65
Step behind the scenes at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles, exploring locker rooms, sidelines, suites and the field, while learning about stadium history, design and eco-friendly features like solar panels and recycling programs.
Philadelphia's "Museum Mile" Along Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Friday, October 2 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Cost: Member: $45 / Nonmember: $65
Before you head out of town or begin your weekend plans, join this one-of-a-kind tour of Philadelphia’s “Museum Mile,” the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Parkway Council staff will lead a tour of the public spaces of some of Philadelphia’s cultural landmarks.
How to Sign Up
To sign up for the LHC or OSIs events, please make your selection during the conference registration process. If you already have registered for the conference, you can add the event to your current order by logging in to the registration site and modifying your registration.
Join us in Philadelphia, September 29 – October 1, to celebrate how parks and recreation bring us together, strengthen health and well-being, and build more resilient, connected communities.
