Clarence H. Clark Park

Clark Park is a 9.1-acre public green space located in the Spruce Hill neighborhood of West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 1895, the park was created on land donated by banker and developer Clarence Howard Clark. It is bounded by 43rd and 45th streets, and by Baltimore and Woodland Avenues.

The park features a distinctive bowl-shaped area, which was once a mill pond fed by the now-buried Mill Creek. This topographical feature gives Clark Park a unique landscape compared to other flat city parks. The park's terrain includes grassy areas, tree-lined paths, and open spaces suitable for various recreational activities.

Clark Park is home to a notable statue of Charles Dickens and Little Nell, sculpted in 1890 by Francis Edwin Elwell. This statue is one of only two known public statues of Dickens in the world, as the author had requested that no monuments be erected in his honor.

The park serves as a community hub, hosting a variety of events throughout the year. It is the site of Philadelphia's largest year-round farmers' market, which operates on Thursdays and Saturdays. The park also hosts cultural events, including the popular Shakespeare in Clark Park summer performances, as well as festivals and community gatherings.

Historically, a portion of the land that became Clark Park was part of the grounds of Satterlee Hospital, a major Union Army hospital during the American Civil War. A commemorative stone from the Gettysburg battlefield, placed in 1915, marks the nearby site of the hospital and honors those who served there.