Norristown Farm Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Norristown Farm Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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The main barn at Norristown Farm Park
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Location | Montgomery, Pennsylvania, United States |
Area | 690 acres (280 ha) |
Elevation | 180 ft (55 m) |
Established | 1995 |
Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Website | Norristown Farm Park |
Norristown Farm Park is a 690-acre (279 ha) Pennsylvania state park in East Norriton and West Norriton Townships and the Borough of Norristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is operated in partnership with the Montgomery County Department of Parks. The park is a working farm on the site of Norristown State Hospital. Many colonial era farm buildings and homes are on the grounds. Hiking, bicycling, ball fields, fishing, picnicking, and cross-country skiing are available in the park. The park hosts musical concerts in the summer. Stony Creek flows through the park. Norristown Farm Park is just off Interstate 276 on West Germantown Pike.
History
Norristown Farm Park was originally part of a 7,000-acre (2,800 ha) tract of land called "Williamstadt," which originally belonged to William Penn. The property was then transferred to Isaac Norris, the namesake of Norristown, by way of Penn's son, William Penn, Jr. Norris' heirs sold pieces of Williamstadt to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Norristown State Hospital was opened in the 1870s as a mental hospital. The park is on state-owned land that surrounds the hospital.
Gallery
Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Norristown Farm Park:
- Benjamin Rush State Park (Philadelphia County)
- Bull's Island Recreation Area (New Jersey)
- Evansburg State Park (Montgomery County)
- Delaware Canal State Park (Bucks and Northampton Counties)
- Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park (New Jersey)
- French Creek State Park (Berks and Chester Counties)
- Fort Washington State Park (Montgomery County)
- Fox Point State Park (Delaware)
- Neshaminy State Park (Bucks County)
- Nockamixon State Park (Bucks County)
- Marsh Creek State Park (Chester County)
- Ralph Stover State Park (Bucks County)
- Rancocas State Park (New Jersey)
- Ridley Creek State Park (Delaware County)
- Tyler State Park (Bucks County)
- Washington Crossing State Park (New Jersey)
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