Part of Holmes-Foster Park’s upper playground

It’s no secret that State College is brimming with wonderful parks. (Thirteen of them, gracing 115 acres across the Borough, to be exact!)

But do you know which park was the very first?

That award goes to resident-favorite Holmes-Foster Park, which has delighted kids and provided a peaceful natural area for adults for more than 100 years.

The park was donated to the Borough in 1921 by businessman J. Laird Holmes and French professor I.P. Foster, and their contribution to town was described at the time as “one of the prettiest groves of trees in the vicinity of State College.” (Some of those trees are now nearly 200 years old!)

Holmes-Foster, a local gem in all seasons!

With picnic pavilions, two playground areas (little kids gravitate towards the lower, bigger kids the upper), a basketball court, horseshoes, charcoal grills, two bocce courts, a restroom facility, and plenty of summertime shade from those previously mentioned trees, Holmes-Foster was the first and is still one of the best when it comes to our local parks. (We think it’s so great, we even made a tshirt about it.)

P.S. Want to find your local park? Or visit them all to vote for your favorite? Centre Region Parks and Rec has got you covered with this handy map!