Editing Fairmount Park Commission (section)

== Founding and Early History ==

The Fairmount Park Commission was established in 1867 to manage lands the city had been acquiring along the Schuylkill River since the 1840s. The initial acquisitions served practical purposes—protecting the city's water supply from pollution—but the commission transformed these lands into public parkland serving recreational and aesthetic purposes. The commission's creation reflected the parks movement then spreading through American cities, which sought to provide urban populations with access to nature and outdoor recreation.<ref name="weigley">{{cite book |last=Weigley |first=Russell |title=Philadelphia: A 300-Year History |year=1982 |publisher=W.W. Norton |location=New York}}</ref>

Under the commission's direction, Fairmount Park expanded to encompass thousands of acres along both sides of the Schuylkill River, eventually extending to include the Wissahickon Valley and other natural areas. The commission hired landscape architects including Frederick Law Olmsted's firm to design portions of the park, creating varied landscapes ranging from formal gardens to preserved natural areas. The 1876 Centennial Exposition, held in Fairmount Park, brought international attention to the park system while leaving permanent structures including Memorial Hall.<ref name="gallery"/>