Information
Landmark: Long’s ParkCity: Lancaster
Country: USA Pennsylvania
Continent: North America
Long’s Park, Lancaster, USA Pennsylvania, North America
Overview
Long’s Park, an 80-acre stretch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, offers shady trails, playgrounds buzzing with laughter, and lively community events that draw people together.The park, founded in 1900, took its name from Judge Henry Grimly Long and his daughter Catherine, who gave the city the land so neighbors could stroll beneath its oak trees.At the heart of Long’s Park sits Long’s Pond, a clear, spring-fed lake spanning three acres, its rippling surface drawing the eye and anchoring the landscape.Well-kept trails circle the pond, and in the center, a decorative fountain sends thin streams of water into the air.Ducks paddle lazily across the water, turtles bask on sun-warmed rocks, and other small creatures wander through, all bringing life to a calm, green haven visitors love to explore.In the past few years, the park has deepened its commitment to caring for the environment, adding a wetlands area in 2023 where reeds sway and waterbirds skim the surface.Here, you’ll find floating wetland islands, quiet marshes, and a sand filtration system that works to clean the water in Long’s Pond and the nearby Little Conestoga Creek.The wetlands show how sustainable water management works in practice and give birds and aquatic creatures a safe, food-rich place to thrive.Long’s Park packs plenty of fun for all ages, with playgrounds scattered across the grounds, including a towering wooden castle where kids race up ladders and slide down with squeals of delight.These playgrounds give kids a safe, creative spot where they can climb over bright jungle bars, race down slides, and lose themselves in play.The petting zoo is a favorite spot for families, where visitors can scratch a goat’s rough coat, feed a curious llama, or meet pigs and donkeys up close.It’s a fun way for kids to get up close to animals and see how farms work, like watching a hen peck at the ground for grain.If you’re looking to stay active, Long’s Park offers tennis and basketball courts, plus a fitness trail where you can hear gravel crunch beneath your shoes.This trail’s perfect for a brisk walk, a steady jog, or a full-on run, with pine-scented air and birdsong all around.Picnic areas dot the park, with pavilions both open to the breeze and shaded under sturdy roofs.Each pavilion comes with a charcoal grill, ready for anyone to use, and that’s part of why Long’s Park draws families sharing burgers, neighbors hosting block parties, and friends lingering over easy outdoor meals.Long’s Park isn’t just a green escape-it’s Lancaster’s go-to spot for community gatherings, with events that keep the lawns buzzing year-round.Each summer from June to August, the amphitheater lights up Sunday evenings with free concerts, music spilling into the warm air as families spread blankets on the grass.The performances span everything from blues and Latin to classical and folk, filling the air with music beneath the open sky.The Labor Day Art Festival rolls into town each holiday weekend, bringing together more than 200 juried artists and craftspeople, their stalls bright with paintings, pottery, and handmade jewelry.Thousands flock to the festival, where bright canvases, handmade pottery, and local artisans take center stage in a lively celebration of creativity.On Independence Day, the United States Army Band fills the park with music, then the sky bursts into color as fireworks crackle overhead, kicking off celebrations that bring neighbors together and spark a shared pride in the community.The park opens at dawn and closes at dusk, giving you plenty of time to wander the trails, watch the sunlight ripple across the lake, and enjoy everything it has to offer.You can walk into Long’s Park and enjoy most events without paying a dime-even the summer concerts under the oak trees.You’ll find the park on Harrisburg Pike, right off Route 30 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601, where the smell of fresh-cut grass drifts across the road.You’ll find plenty of parking near the amphitheater, with more spots scattered across the park-even under the shade of tall oak trees.The park welcomes visitors of all abilities, offering smooth paved paths and restrooms built for easy wheelchair access.Long’s Park is a lively stretch of green in Lancaster, where quiet trails wind past shady trees and families gather for concerts, picnics, and weekend festivals.Visitors might stroll quietly around the pond, chase giggling kids through the playground and petting zoo, rally hard on the tennis courts, or sway to a live band under the summer sky-whatever the draw, Long’s Park has it, and the community cherishes it.If you want details on pavilion rentals, upcoming events, or ways to volunteer, you’ll find them all on the Long’s Park Amphitheater Foundation website-right down to photos of the stage lit up at dusk.
