Parks

The Borough has 6 parks:

Gateway Park

This ½ acre park is at the corner of Baltimore Pike and Cedar Lane s erves as the main entrance way into the Borough.   A “Welcome to Swarthmore” sign was erected in late 2002, co-funded by the Centennial Foundation and Swarthmore College and mentions that Swarthmore is the home of Swarthmore College . The land for his park was donated to the Borough in 2000 to be used as a permanent green space for the Borough.

Keystone Park

Another approx. ½ acre park bordering Baltimore Pike and Oakdale Avenues, acts as a green welcoming space into the Borough, and as host to many charity events.

Umoja Park  

This neighborhood park is a great open space full of plenty of mature trees, as well as picnic tables and benches. You’ll find this park on Yale Avenue , between Rutgers and Kenyon Avenues. This park was formerly the site of a school building.

Thatcher Park  

Also known as the “tot lot” this park is fenced on all sides and great for young kids. Originally acquired in 1970, it was redeveloped in 2002. This park has a fully equipped play area with swings and plenty of other things to climb on! Located close to Downtown Swarthmore, it is a great place to visit and then walk into town for a meal or snack. The park is located on Rutgers Avenue .

Centennial Park

Located in Downtown Swarthmore, this park was created in 1993 to mark the Borough's Centennial.   Have a seat at one of the benches as watch Swarthmore’s daily life pass by.

Little Crum Creek

Swarthmore’s largest park is also its most diverse in terms of planting and habitat. This park is located along Little Crum Creek and may be entered from Yale Avenue or Cresson Avenues.

In the spring of 2003, a group from the Environmental Advisory Council, Swarthmore College and other volunteers began implementation of a plan to return a portion of the park back to its native wetland status. Over the next few years, these plantings will mature to create a unique wetland area.

The rest of the park is available for many other uses such as dog walking, bird watching, picnics, group gatherings and informal sports. A gazebo is on the site, making the park a very pleasant place to sit and relax.