Brandywine Park winds alongside the Brandywine River in the heart of the city. Established in 1886, it is the largest urban park in DE, and much like Central Park, owes its origin to the late 19th century “Natural Landscape Movement” of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead. The Park fulfilled the need for public recreational space within a larger urban environment.
Brandywine Park was added to the National Historic Register in 1976. The 178-acre park features wooded trails, formal gardens, sculpture, architecture, a sports stadium and a zoo. Stretching along a one-mile run of the Brandywine River, the park offers visitors outdoor recreation, picnic spots and cultural events.
Nearly every day there is a flurry of activity in the park – from runners, to cyclists, to children playing, to people simply partaking in the beauty of this historic landmark.
Brandywine Park winds alongside the Brandywine River in the heart of the city. Established in 1886, it is the largest urban park in DE. Much like Central Park, it owes its origin to the late 19th century “Natural Landscape Movement” of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead.
The 178-acre park stretches along a one-mile run of the Brandywine River. Nearly every day there is a flurry of activity in the park. It is home to Delaware's only Zoo, a historic rose garden and an awe-inspiring spring cherry blossom display. You can often see fishermen along the banks, folks working out on the fitness loop and people simply partaking in the beauty of this historic landmark.
On April 26, 2022, The Friends of Wilmington Park held a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the new Fitness Trail at Brandywine Park. This trail consists of 4 stations with equipment that visitors can use to add a workout to their daily walk or run. Generously funded by Incyte and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield: Delaware’s BluePrints for the Community, this trail offers our visitors more opportunities to get fit and enjoy the outdoors.
Friends of Wilmington Parks is currently fundraising for a new picnic area at the Rodney Street Courts. It will be renovated with picnic furniture, shade structure and new landscaping. These courts are the most used public courts in the city and are used for league play, tournaments, and youth programs.
In 2023 and 2024, Friends of Wilmington Parks will be expanding our Habitat Hill restoration site. Our vision is to create a place where visitors can learn about the value of native habitat and be inspired to plant with native plants in their home landscape. Thanks to a Sustainable Communities grant from Delaware Nature Society, FOWP installed a pollinator garden as phase one of the project.
In April 2022, The Friends of Wilmington Park held a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the new Fitness Trail at Brandywine Park. This trail consists of 4 stations with equipment that visitors can use to add a workout to their daily walk or run. Generously funded by Incyte and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield: Delaware’s BluePrints for the Community, this trail offers our visitors more opportunities to get fit and enjoy the outdoors.
Friends of Wilmington Parks is currently fundraising for the picnic area at the Rodney Street Courts to be renovated with picnic furniture, shade structure and new landscaping. These courts are the most used public courts in the city and are used for league play, tournaments, and youth programs.
In April 2022, The Friends of Wilmington Park held a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the new Fitness Trail at Brandywine Park. This trail consists of 4 stations with equipment that visitors can use to add a workout to their daily walk or run. Generously funded by Incyte and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield: Delaware’s BluePrints for the Community, this trail offers our visitors more opportunities to get fit and enjoy the outdoors.
