Parkwood, Philadelphia
Encyclopedia
Parkwood is a neighborhood
located in the Far Northeast
section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The neighborhood is generally bound by Red Lion Road to the east of the Roosevelt Boulevard
, Knights Road to the northwest and Academy Road to the southeast. The community is situated between the Poquessing Creek
and Woodhaven Expressway. The neighborhood was developed in the late 1950s as a planned residential community. The predominant housing type is the brick row house. Parkwood has a neighborhood shopping center as well as the regional Franklin Mills
Mall which is located immediately to the east of Parkwood's residential area.
settlement. The Algonquian
and Iroquois
Nations originally inhabited the area. The dominant Algonquian group, the Lenni-Lenape, settled in this area because of the proximity to the Poquessing Creek
, where fishing, hunting, and water resources were readily accessible. Despite their dependence on water, the Lenape created well established paths to major features in the region. Early explorers and European
settlers, who arrived in the 17th century, utilized these paths, which became wagon trails and major highways such as Knights Road, Bristol Pike and Roosevelt Boulevard
.
In 1645, Swedish
settlers moved into the area and were soon followed by the English Quakers. Unofficial sources report the area was named "Byberry" after one of the first settler’s hometown of Bibury, England
. Others argue that William Penn
suggested the name. In any case, the spelling varied for some time until the area officially became known as Byberry Township, PA in 1694. Just before the township was formally established, the Quakers built a Friends meeting house
(1692) at the Southampton and Townsend Roads. By 1710 the Quaker Friends
' School was built.
As the small village of Byberry began to grow, the first "Free School" opened in 1802. These buildings were reconstructed in the 19th century and remain today. Byberry Hall (1846) built by Robert Purvis, a free man of color, served as a meeting place for abolitionists. Lucretia Mott
spoke here. Because this area was mostly farmland, these buildings created the “town center” of this community.
Just on the other side of the Poquessing Creek, Red Lion Inn
, located along the historically important road Bristol Pike, opened in 1730. It was here that George Washington
and the Massachusetts
delegation reportedly stopped before attending the Continental Congress
in Philadelphia. The Poquessing Creek area was developed with several mills in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Though none of the structures of the Knight’s Mill, (1750), Townsend Mill, (1767) and the Carter Mill (1838) remain standing, there are intact stone arch bridges representing the historic period along the Poquessing Creek.
By the late 18th century, as the Byberry Township village grew the Lenni-Lenape moved out from this area. The Native American culture was acutely observed and recorded by one of Philadelphia’s most significant forefathers, Dr. Benjamin Rush. He settled in Byberry Township in closer proximity to the mouth of the Poquessing Creek at Keswick and Rayland Roads. Benjamin Rush recorded the medicinal treatments the Indians used. His historic contributions and credentials, too long to list in full, included being appointed to the Continental Congress
and signing the Declaration of Independence
, and being appointed physician-general in charge of hospital patients in George Washington’s Army. Known as “The Father of American Psychiatry”, Dr. Rush’s medical accomplishments included training Meriweather Lewis as a medic on the Lewis & Clark expedition, and treating many patients during the Yellow Fever
Epidemic in Philadelphia. Today there is a memorial marker to Dr. Rush at the site of the family home.
By 1854, the City of Philadelphia annexed Byberry Township and in the late 19th century, Byberry Hospital
was built. The hospital became the Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry
in 1906. When the hospital finally closed in the 1970s, its site to the east of Roosevelt Boulevard was divided into two major sections for use as an industrial park and the Benjamin Rush State Park
.
During the late 1950s the majority of the housing was built by the Korman Corporation as a planned community to be called Parkwood Manor. A neighborhood commercial center was added in the 1960s at Byberry and Academy Roads, and it is still owned by Korman. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the City of Philadelphia established Byberry Industrial Park and approved development of the Franklin Mills
Mall on the former Liberty Bell Park (race track)
. Soon after, the Community College of Philadelphia
opened its Northeast location in the Parkwood area.
. Between the 1980 Census
and the 2000 Census, the neighborhood experienced a 22% population decrease due in part to smaller household size and an increase in single person households. Parkwood experienced a 4% increase in persons over age 65 between 1990 and 2000. Census statistics indicate that Parkwood, like Philadelphia as a whole, is becoming more racially diverse. Racial composition was 89% white in 2000 compared to 95% in 1980.
. Large tracts of open space border the creek, with tributaries meandering into the neighborhood creating grass lined drainage swales that weave through residential developments. The neighborhood commercial center is located at the intersection of Academy and Byberry Road, to the west of Knights Road. Franklin Mills Mall, a regional commercial attraction, sits alongside the Poquessing Creek near Interstate 95
.
reports a 3% vacancy rate that reflects short-term market vacancies. Home ownership, a major strength of the neighborhood, has remained steady with a rate of 86% which is much higher than the city as a whole. The median residential property value is in excess of $155,000 (2004 data) and an analysis of sales in 2009-2010 indicates that homes are selling in the range of $160,000 to $210,000.
Mall, a regional shopping center with over 2500000 square feet (232,257.6 m²) of rentable floor space developed in the 1980s, is located on the eastern side of the neighborhood. There are numerous chain restaurants, a sporting goods store, and grocery stores, among other “mega-stores” within this expansive retail outlet mall. Almost unlimited shopping opportunities are available. According to the Philadelphia Panning Commissions PhilaShops study, the mall’s stage of development is currently stable.
Parkwood benefits from the convenience of having its own neighborhood shopping center at Academy & Byberry Roads. However, according to the PhilaShops data, this commercial center, built in the 1960s, experienced an increase in vacancy by almost 17 percent over the 8 year time span prior to 2003. Several years ago, this shopping center underwent façade improvements to create a more uniform appearance. More extensive improvements have also been constructed at the Parkwood Shopping Center, including the addition of a new anchor store Wawa Food Markets
.
and Ricoh Business Systems
. These companies have utilized economic development stimulus programs because the area is designated as a Keystone Opportunity Zone
. The park is also home to the Delaware Valley Veteran’s Nursing Home and the Northeast campus of the Community College of Philadelphia
. The manager of the industrial park, the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), recently conveyed buffer area rights-of-way to the ownership of the Fairmount Park Commission. The buffers are part of a planned business campus that uses deed restrictions to control setbacks and landscaped areas.
Neighbourhood
A neighbourhood or neighborhood is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members. "Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition...
located in the Far Northeast
Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia, nicknamed Northeast Philly, the Northeast and the Great Northeast, is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the 2000 Census, the Northeast has a sizable percentage of the city's 1.547 million people — a population of between 300,000 and 450,000,...
section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The neighborhood is generally bound by Red Lion Road to the east of the Roosevelt Boulevard
Roosevelt Boulevard
The following roads are called Roosevelt Boulevard:*Roosevelt Boulevard in Jacksonville, Florida*Roosevelt Boulevard between Marmora and Ocean City, New Jersey*Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, Knights Road to the northwest and Academy Road to the southeast. The community is situated between the Poquessing Creek
Poquessing Creek
Poquessing Creek is a creek, a right tributary of the Delaware River, that forms part of the boundary between Bucks County and the northeast section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has been part of the boundary between Bucks and Philadelphia counties since 1682.The creek arises in Trevose and...
and Woodhaven Expressway. The neighborhood was developed in the late 1950s as a planned residential community. The predominant housing type is the brick row house. Parkwood has a neighborhood shopping center as well as the regional Franklin Mills
Franklin Mills
Franklin Mills is an enclosed shopping mall located in northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, bordering Bensalem in Bucks County and outside Center City...
Mall which is located immediately to the east of Parkwood's residential area.
History
Parkwood used to be a Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
settlement. The Algonquian
Algonquian peoples
The Algonquian are one of the most populous and widespread North American native language groups, with tribes originally numbering in the hundreds. Today hundreds of thousands of individuals identify with various Algonquian peoples...
and Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
Nations originally inhabited the area. The dominant Algonquian group, the Lenni-Lenape, settled in this area because of the proximity to the Poquessing Creek
Poquessing Creek
Poquessing Creek is a creek, a right tributary of the Delaware River, that forms part of the boundary between Bucks County and the northeast section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has been part of the boundary between Bucks and Philadelphia counties since 1682.The creek arises in Trevose and...
, where fishing, hunting, and water resources were readily accessible. Despite their dependence on water, the Lenape created well established paths to major features in the region. Early explorers and European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
settlers, who arrived in the 17th century, utilized these paths, which became wagon trails and major highways such as Knights Road, Bristol Pike and Roosevelt Boulevard
Roosevelt Boulevard
The following roads are called Roosevelt Boulevard:*Roosevelt Boulevard in Jacksonville, Florida*Roosevelt Boulevard between Marmora and Ocean City, New Jersey*Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
.
In 1645, Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
settlers moved into the area and were soon followed by the English Quakers. Unofficial sources report the area was named "Byberry" after one of the first settler’s hometown of Bibury, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Others argue that William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
suggested the name. In any case, the spelling varied for some time until the area officially became known as Byberry Township, PA in 1694. Just before the township was formally established, the Quakers built a Friends meeting house
Friends meeting house
A Friends meeting house is a meeting house of the Religious Society of Friends , where meeting for worship may be held.-History:Quakers do not believe that meeting for worship should take place in any special place. They believe that "where two or three meet together in my name, I am there among...
(1692) at the Southampton and Townsend Roads. By 1710 the Quaker Friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
' School was built.
As the small village of Byberry began to grow, the first "Free School" opened in 1802. These buildings were reconstructed in the 19th century and remain today. Byberry Hall (1846) built by Robert Purvis, a free man of color, served as a meeting place for abolitionists. Lucretia Mott
Lucretia Mott
Lucretia Coffin Mott was an American Quaker, abolitionist, social reformer, and proponent of women's rights.- Early life and education:...
spoke here. Because this area was mostly farmland, these buildings created the “town center” of this community.
Just on the other side of the Poquessing Creek, Red Lion Inn
The Red Lion Inn - Bensalem, PA
The Red Lion Inn was a historic inn located near the Red Lion Bridge just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The Inn was located on the Kings Highway at the bridge across Poquessing Creek...
, located along the historically important road Bristol Pike, opened in 1730. It was here that George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and the Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
delegation reportedly stopped before attending the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
in Philadelphia. The Poquessing Creek area was developed with several mills in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Though none of the structures of the Knight’s Mill, (1750), Townsend Mill, (1767) and the Carter Mill (1838) remain standing, there are intact stone arch bridges representing the historic period along the Poquessing Creek.
By the late 18th century, as the Byberry Township village grew the Lenni-Lenape moved out from this area. The Native American culture was acutely observed and recorded by one of Philadelphia’s most significant forefathers, Dr. Benjamin Rush. He settled in Byberry Township in closer proximity to the mouth of the Poquessing Creek at Keswick and Rayland Roads. Benjamin Rush recorded the medicinal treatments the Indians used. His historic contributions and credentials, too long to list in full, included being appointed to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
and signing the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
, and being appointed physician-general in charge of hospital patients in George Washington’s Army. Known as “The Father of American Psychiatry”, Dr. Rush’s medical accomplishments included training Meriweather Lewis as a medic on the Lewis & Clark expedition, and treating many patients during the Yellow Fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
Epidemic in Philadelphia. Today there is a memorial marker to Dr. Rush at the site of the family home.
By 1854, the City of Philadelphia annexed Byberry Township and in the late 19th century, Byberry Hospital
Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry
The Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry was a psychiatric hospital located in the Byberry neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. The name of the institution was changed several times during its history being variously named Philadelphia State Hospital, Byberry State Hospital,...
was built. The hospital became the Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry
Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry
The Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry was a psychiatric hospital located in the Byberry neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. The name of the institution was changed several times during its history being variously named Philadelphia State Hospital, Byberry State Hospital,...
in 1906. When the hospital finally closed in the 1970s, its site to the east of Roosevelt Boulevard was divided into two major sections for use as an industrial park and the Benjamin Rush State Park
Benjamin Rush State Park
Benjamin Rush State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The park is undeveloped and is the site of community gardens, believed to be one of the largest in the world. The park is home to the Northeast Radio Controlled Airplane...
.
During the late 1950s the majority of the housing was built by the Korman Corporation as a planned community to be called Parkwood Manor. A neighborhood commercial center was added in the 1960s at Byberry and Academy Roads, and it is still owned by Korman. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the City of Philadelphia established Byberry Industrial Park and approved development of the Franklin Mills
Franklin Mills
Franklin Mills is an enclosed shopping mall located in northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, bordering Bensalem in Bucks County and outside Center City...
Mall on the former Liberty Bell Park (race track)
Liberty Bell Park (race track)
Liberty Bell Park was an American race track that held harness racing and Thoroughbred horse racing located in Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1963 until 1986...
. Soon after, the Community College of Philadelphia
Community College of Philadelphia
The Community College of Philadelphia is a community college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The main campus is located at 1700 Spring Garden Street in a building that was the former Philadelphia Mint...
opened its Northeast location in the Parkwood area.
Population
Total population in Parkwood was 14,778 in the 2000 CensusUnited States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. Between the 1980 Census
United States Census
The United States Census is a decennial census mandated by the United States Constitution. The population is enumerated every 10 years and the results are used to allocate Congressional seats , electoral votes, and government program funding. The United States Census Bureau The United States Census...
and the 2000 Census, the neighborhood experienced a 22% population decrease due in part to smaller household size and an increase in single person households. Parkwood experienced a 4% increase in persons over age 65 between 1990 and 2000. Census statistics indicate that Parkwood, like Philadelphia as a whole, is becoming more racially diverse. Racial composition was 89% white in 2000 compared to 95% in 1980.
| Parkwood | City | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 89% | 39% |
| Under age 20 | 28% | 28% |
| 65 years + | 10% | 14% |
| Population in poverty | 06% | 22% |
| Median family income | $52,255 | $30,746 |
| High School graduate | 45% | 33% |
| Bachelor’s degree/higher ed | 12% | 18% |
| Unemployment rate | 05% | 11% |
| Cars per household | 1.7 | 0.9 |
| Occupied housing units | 97% | 89% |
| Owner occupied housing | 86% | 60% |
Land Use
Parkwood’s land use achieves a balanced mix of residential, recreational, institutional, commercial and industrial land use. To the east of Roosevelt Boulevard, industrial and business uses occupy approximately 112 acre (0.45324832 km²) within Byberry Industrial Park. Just north of Byberry Industrial Park, approximately 280 acres (1.1 km²) of land zoned recreational for Benjamin Rush State ParkBenjamin Rush State Park
Benjamin Rush State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The park is undeveloped and is the site of community gardens, believed to be one of the largest in the world. The park is home to the Northeast Radio Controlled Airplane...
. Large tracts of open space border the creek, with tributaries meandering into the neighborhood creating grass lined drainage swales that weave through residential developments. The neighborhood commercial center is located at the intersection of Academy and Byberry Road, to the west of Knights Road. Franklin Mills Mall, a regional commercial attraction, sits alongside the Poquessing Creek near Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Pennsylvania
Interstate 95 is an Interstate highway running from Miami, Florida north to Houlton, Maine. In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the route is known by many as the Delaware Expressway, but is officially named The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. and locally known as "95"...
.
Residential
Parkwood is predominantly residential and its housing is stable and attractive. Housing densities range from apartments, condominiums, and row homes to single family detached. For the most part, Parkwood’s housing remains well maintained, though some homes in Parkwood could use cosmetic maintenance or some basic repairs. Vacant housing is virtually non-existent. The 2000 CensusUnited States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
reports a 3% vacancy rate that reflects short-term market vacancies. Home ownership, a major strength of the neighborhood, has remained steady with a rate of 86% which is much higher than the city as a whole. The median residential property value is in excess of $155,000 (2004 data) and an analysis of sales in 2009-2010 indicates that homes are selling in the range of $160,000 to $210,000.
Commercial
The Franklin MillsFranklin Mills
Franklin Mills is an enclosed shopping mall located in northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, bordering Bensalem in Bucks County and outside Center City...
Mall, a regional shopping center with over 2500000 square feet (232,257.6 m²) of rentable floor space developed in the 1980s, is located on the eastern side of the neighborhood. There are numerous chain restaurants, a sporting goods store, and grocery stores, among other “mega-stores” within this expansive retail outlet mall. Almost unlimited shopping opportunities are available. According to the Philadelphia Panning Commissions PhilaShops study, the mall’s stage of development is currently stable.
Parkwood benefits from the convenience of having its own neighborhood shopping center at Academy & Byberry Roads. However, according to the PhilaShops data, this commercial center, built in the 1960s, experienced an increase in vacancy by almost 17 percent over the 8 year time span prior to 2003. Several years ago, this shopping center underwent façade improvements to create a more uniform appearance. More extensive improvements have also been constructed at the Parkwood Shopping Center, including the addition of a new anchor store Wawa Food Markets
Wawa Food Markets
Wawa Inc. is a chain of convenience store/gas stations located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It operates in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida. The company's corporate headquarters is located in Chester Heights, Pennsylvania, near the community...
.
Industrial
Another asset for the Parkwood community is Byberry Industrial Park, where more than 50 employers are located. The businesses here employ about 5,000 people in the region. In fact, Byberry East Industrial Park is home to some of Philadelphia’s largest employers including: Elliot-Lewis Corporation, Antonio Origlio Inc., Alamo CorporationAlamo Rent A Car
Alamo Rent a Car is the third-largest car rental agency in the United States. Based in Clayton, Missouri, it has branches across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, parts of Africa, Europe, and Australia, and various Caribbean islands...
and Ricoh Business Systems
Ricoh
or Ricoh, is a Japanese company that was established in 1936 on February 6th, as , a company in the RIKEN zaibatsu. Its headquarters is located in Ricoh Building in Chūō, Tokyo....
. These companies have utilized economic development stimulus programs because the area is designated as a Keystone Opportunity Zone
Keystone Opportunity Zone
Keystone Opportunity Zones are specific commercial or industrial areas with greatly reduced or no tax burden for property owners, residents and businesses throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is also known as the Keystone State, hence the name...
. The park is also home to the Delaware Valley Veteran’s Nursing Home and the Northeast campus of the Community College of Philadelphia
Community College of Philadelphia
The Community College of Philadelphia is a community college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The main campus is located at 1700 Spring Garden Street in a building that was the former Philadelphia Mint...
. The manager of the industrial park, the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), recently conveyed buffer area rights-of-way to the ownership of the Fairmount Park Commission. The buffers are part of a planned business campus that uses deed restrictions to control setbacks and landscaped areas.