Penn's Commons (City Park) - Reading, PA - American Guide Series on Waymarking.com

1. Penns's Commons (City Park), 11th and Penn Sts., at the base of Mount Penn, was deeded and reserved forever by the Penns, when the town was laid out in 1748, as a free public commons for Reading's citizens. The park's 50 acres consist of lawns, groves of trees, flower beds, a litly pond containing gold fish, a municipal band shell, a greenhouse, a mineral spring, two playgrounds, and skating and game rinks made by covering a double reservoir with concrete roofs. On the commons are a statue to Frererick Lauer, deceased Reading brewer: an anchor, dedicated by Franklin D. Roosevelt when he was assistant Secretary of the Navy; and monuments to Columbus, McKinley, Reading Volunteer Firemen, and the Ringgold Light Artillery, first volunteer company to reach Washington when Lincoln called for troops. During the 1800's public hangings were held here, and for many years the Berks County Jail stood on the Commons. The County Fair was also held here for several years, but the protest that it violated the Penn deed caused its removal. The fair's half-mile racetrack was converted into a road, which is still used.

I don't live in the city and although I have been in the area for almost 20 years, I had never been to City Park. As a Waymark project, I decided to give it a try and I was absolutely amazed at everything this park has to offer. There are not many holdovers from the days that this article was written except for the monuments and the greenhouse. There is still a bandshell but it is not the original one. A lovely Veteran's Memorial Grove provides interest in the eastern corner of the park. My favorite tribute is the Vietnam Memorial which I have used as the main picture for this Waymark.