Fairmount Park Cultural Resource Inventory

In 1998, the Trust began utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to create the first comprehensive building inventory for Fairmount Park: the Fairmount Park Cultural Resource Inventory (FPCRI). In partnership with the Natural Lands Restoration and Environmental Education Program and the Fairmount Park Commission, and with the generous support of the William Penn Foundation, the Trust was able to survey and inventory all of the man-made structures of the Park, including sheds, gazebos, and garden walls in addition to all of the roofed structures of the Park. The information collected is presented in a digital format for ease of viewing and analysis, and is now instrumental as a management tool within the Park. By accessing the available data, the Fairmount Park Commission and the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust are able to prioritize the conservation needs of the Park's cultural resources, and allocate the scant financial resources to the properties in greatest need.