'Secret Lake,' Massive New Park To Open In Philadelphia

A massive new nature sanctuary and public park hidden within Fairmount Park is set to open soon.

“The Discovery Center,” a 50-acre nature preserve in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood of North Philadelphia, is a collaboration between Outward Bound and the Audubon Society.

The park is slated to open in the spring or summer of 2017.

The park is rich in plant and bird life and will serve as a regional center for biodiversity in a city where youth often have limited exposure to nature, according to the Audubon Society:

The area contains the East Park Reservoir, a body of water largely concealed from the public eye by dense vegetation and a sloping hill.

It is located on 33rd and Reservoir Drive, immediately off Kelly Drive on the Schuylkill River, about a mile past Boathouse Row.

“This hidden gem provides vital habitat for wildlife and has become a prime stopover site for migratory birds,” the Audubon Society says on its website. “The lake offers an unusual opportunity for Philadelphians of all ages to observe and interact with nature.”

A ropes course is set to open in the summer of 2016. A wide variety of environmental education classes for children, trails that are open to the public, and a variety of other features will make it one of the most publicly integrated and programmed areas of Fairmount Park.