Norristown Farm Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Norristown Farm Park, Pennsylvania, USA | |
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| IUCN Category III (Natural Monument) | |
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| Location: | East Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nearest city: | Norristown, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 690 acres (2.79 km²) |
| Established: | September 26, 1995 |
| Governing body: | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Norristown Farm Park is a 690 acre (2.79 km² Pennsylvania state park in East Norriton, 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 the former 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.
Norristown Farm Park was originally part of a 7,000+ acre tract of land called "Williamstadt". The land 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.
[edit] 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)
- 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)
[edit] References
- Norristown Farm State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on December 12, 2006.
- Norristown Farm Park Montogmery County page. County of Montgomery, PA. Retrieved on December 12, 2006.
- Norristown Farm Park Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area. Schuylkill River Greenway Association. Retrieved on December 12, 2006.
- Reverend Judith A. Meier. AN HISTORIC DISTRICT WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE NORRISTOWN STATE HOSPITAL. Farm Park Preservation Association. Retrieved on January 22, 2007.
- United States Geological Survey. Norristown State Hospital, USGS Lansdale (PA) Topo Map. TopoZone. Retrieved on January 22, 2007.
- Norristown Farm Park. County of Montgomery, PA. Retrieved on December 12, 2006.
