Prospect Park, Pennsylvania
Prospect Park is a borough of 6,417 people in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, founded in 1894.
Why visit Prospect Park
Townapedia lists 11 museums and landmarks, 25 parks and trails, 40 places to eat, 8 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Widener University, Morton Morton House, Benjamin West Birthplace and John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 26°F, and about 23 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Prospect Park
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Prospect Park
Prospect Park is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, Prospect Park had a population of 6,427. It originated as a bedroom community of Philadelphia. It is located within 10 miles (16 km) of Center City, Philadelphia, with convenient rail access (SEPTA, and connection to Amtrak).
From the Wikipedia article Prospect Park, Pennsylvania (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks11
Morton Morton House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic house in Pennsylvania, United States
Benjamin West Birthplace
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Historic house in Pennsylvania, United States
Darby Meeting
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Historic church in Pennsylvania, United States
Eden Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Cemetery in Collingdale, Pennsylvania, United States
Morton Homestead
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Building in Pennsylvania, United States
Ogden House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Lazaretto
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
United States historic place, first quarantine hospital in the United States
The Printzhof
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Archaeological site in Delaware County, United States of America
Thomas Leiper Estate
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Historic house in Pennsylvania, United States
Wolley Stille
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Building in Pennsylvania, United States
Old Main and Chemistry Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds25
S. SWARTHMORE AVE PARK
Park · 1.0 mi
25 South Swarthmore Avenue, Ridley Township
sunrise-sunset
13 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes40
Applebee's
Diner · American · 1.1 mi
320 Macdade Boulevard, Folsom
Mo-Th,Su 11:30-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-24:00
Big Joe’s Sandwich Shop
Restaurant · Sandwich · 1.4 mi
416 Wanamaker Avenue, Essington
Mo,Su off; Tu 10:30-19:30; We-Fr 10:00-20:00; Sa 10:30-20:00
Cracker Barrel
Diner · American · 1.3 mi
125 South Stewart Avenue, Ridley Park
Mo-Th,Su 07:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-23:00
New London Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza
1016 Lincoln Avenue, Prospect Park
Mo-Th 11:00-22:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:30; Su 12:00-22:00
Nifty Fifty's
Diner · American · 0.8 mi
1900 Macdade Boulevard, Folsam
Su-Th 06:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 06:00-01:00
Rosemary
Diner · American · 0.9 mi
25 East Hinckley Avenue, Ridley Park
Su, Tu-Th 17:00-20:30; Fr-Sa 17:00-22:00
Panda Asian Fusion
Restaurant · 0.8 mi
2117-2119 Macdade Boulevard, Holmes
Mo-Th 11:15-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:30; Su 12:00-21:30
The Ridley House
Restaurant · 0.8 mi
2107 Macdade Boulevard, Ridley
Mo-Th 16:00-23:00, Fr 16:00-26:00, Sa 10:00-26:00, Su 10:00-23:00
28 more on the map.
History
In 1874, John Cochran of Chester purchased 103 acres from Joshua Pierson with the intention of dividing the property into lots and selling them. These properties formed the current community of Prospect Park.
Prospect Hill Baptist Church in Prospect Park claims a prominent role in instituting the phrase "In God We Trust" on United States coins and currency. A former pastor, Mark R. Watkinson, felt that the Civil War was going to leave the country with a bad name, "brother fighting brother in a civil war", and wrote a letter to Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, suggesting "God, Liberty, Law," be put on the coins. Chase referred the matter to James B. Longacre, Mint Engraver. A committee later settled on "In God We Trust", and the words first appeared on a 2-cent coin. A plaque on the outside of the church announces the birthplace of the phrase.
The Morton Homestead, one of the oldest buildings in Pennsylvania, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
From the History section of Prospect Park, Pennsylvania on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay8
Clarion Hotel Philadelphia International Airport
Motel and hotel · 1.4 mi
76 Industrial Highway, Essington
Home2 Suites by Hilton Ridley Park Philadelphia Airport South
Motel and hotel · 1.3 mi
145 Stewart Avenue, Ridley Park
La Quinta Inn & Suites Philadelphia Airport
Motel and hotel · 1.3 mi
53 Industrial Highway, Essington
SpringHill Suites Philadelphia Airport/Ridley Park
Motel and hotel · 1.4 mi
201 Industrial Highway, Ridley Park
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Philadelphia Airport Ridley Park
Motel and hotel · 1.3 mi
155 South Sellers Avenue, Ridley Park
Red Roof PLUS+ Philadelphia Airport
Motel and hotel · 1.3 mi
49 Industrial Highway, Essington
Travelodge Essington / Philadelphia Airport
Motel and hotel · 1.2 mi
43 Industrial Highway, Essington
Churches and places of worship15
Ridley Park Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian Church Usa · 1.0 mi
300 North Swarthmore Avenue, Ridley Park
Church of St. John the Evangelist
Church · Episcopal · 1.5 mi
16 West 3rd Street, Essington
Our Lady of Peace Parish
Church · Roman Catholic · 1.5 mi
208 Milmont Avenue, Folsom
Shopping6
Gas and EV charging7
Schools, colleges and libraries65
Chester Charter Scholars Academy Cs
School · 5.9 mi
1500 Highland Avenue, Chester
Healthcare1
Map of Prospect Park
180 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 26°F | 3.1 in | 7.1 in |
| Feb | 44°F | 28°F | 2.8 in | 8.4 in |
| Mar | 53°F | 34°F | 4.0 in | 3.6 in |
| Apr | 65°F | 44°F | 3.5 in | 0.3 in |
| May | 74°F | 54°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 83°F | 64°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 70°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 68°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 61°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 67°F | 49°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 56°F | 39°F | 2.9 in | 0.2 in |
| Dec | 46°F | 31°F | 4.0 in | 3.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Philadelphia Intl Ap 72408 (4 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Delaware County has had 15 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2021-09-10: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-30: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2014-02-06: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2012-10-29: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
- 2011-09-12: Tropical Storm Lee (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Philadelphia Essington Seaplane Base (PSQ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Norwood 1 mi east, about 1 min by car
- Folsom 1 mi west, about 2 min by car
- Glenolden 1 mi northeast, about 2 min by car
- Folcroft 2 mi east, about 3 min by car
- Morton 2 mi northwest, about 3 min by car
- Collingdale 3 mi northeast, about 4 min by car
- Aldan 3 mi north, about 4 min by car
- Eddystone 3 mi southwest, about 4 min by car
- Clifton Heights 3 mi north, about 5 min by car
- Darby 3 mi northeast, about 6 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- MortonsenCabin, User:Smallbones ., Public domain
- MortonMorton House, User:Smallbones on English Wikipedia., Public domain
- Thomas Leiper House Delco PA, Smallbones, CC0
- Printz, Smallbones, Public domain
- Wolley 1, Smallbones, CC0
- Ogden House, Abby Norling-Ruggles, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Philadelphia Lazaretto, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- BWestBplace, User:Smallbones at English Wikipedia., Public domain
- Octavius Catto grave, Lblanchard, CC BY-SA 2.0
- DarbyMeeting2, Smallbones at en.wikipedia, Public domain
- OldMainWidener, User:Smallbones at English Wikipedia., Public domain
- Chester Meeting Delco, Smallbones, CC0
- Asbury AME Church, Dwkaminski, CC BY-SA 4.0
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