Matthias Baldwin Park Arboretum

Matthias Baldwin Park is a two-acre park and part of the Fairmount Park system managed by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation. It was dedicated in 1991 as a Percent for Art installation designed by landscape artist Athena Tacha. She chose the original tree specimens for the 1991 plantings. There are over fifty trees in the park representing 32 species and varieties. There are impressive Cedar of Lebanon trees at the east and west side of the park. In addition, there are large native trees like sugar maples, a red oak, red maples, a sweetgum, and several pines (white, black, red, and pitch). The plan is to replace dying trees with native species as the need arises. The park became an ArbNet Level I Accredited Arboretum in August of 2024. This accreditation recognizes the hard work performed by those responsible for the park and should stimulate further neighborhood interest and investment in the park.

The park is named for Matthias Baldwin (1795-1866), whose locomotive factory occupied the neighborhood from 1835 to 1938. Baldwin Locomotive Works was the largest locomotive factory in the world and employed 19,000 workers at its peak. Matthias Baldwin was an abolitionist, a philanthropist, and a defender of the Black franchise in the Pennsylvania state legislature.

The Friends of Matthias Baldwin Park is a volunteer non-profit that helps manage the park. The Friends work with the City to maintain the central herbivorous plantings as well as the trees. The Friends placed tree tags on all the trees with the scientific name, common name, and a QR code that links to a website page that discusses that tree in the context of the park. Also included on each tree page is a short botany lesson on a theme related to that tree. The Friends offer group tours through the park and encourage local school teachers to use the park as an outdoor classroom.