Thursday May 14th
Reception 6:30PM Lecture 7-8PM
Barnes Arboretum at St. Joseph’s University
50 Lapsley Lane, Merion Station
$20
Today, playgrounds are part of everyday life in Lower Merion. But until the early twentieth century, many children—especially in the denser eastern areas of the township—played in streets, alleys, and vacant lots.
Around 1910, local civic and government leaders, led by women, sought to change this. They did so by purchasing land and creating dedicated, planned spaces for play. By the 1930s, the township expanded this effort and commissioned a landscape architect to design additional playgrounds. Together, these sites reflect a long-standing commitment to children and community life.
Join Kathleen Abplanalp, Director of Historic Preservation at LMC; Greg Prichard, Preservation Planner for Lower Merion Township; and Rob Armstrong, Transportation Project Manager for WSP, and scholar of Philadelphia’s parks and playgrounds for a lecture exploring this history at the Barnes Arboretum at St. Joseph’s University.
Wine and cheese reception included!