Penn Park Master Plan

York’s first great park, “The Commons,” as it was known, was a meeting ground that was considered part of a thriving downtown. Now known as Penn Park, it remains an instrumental factor in providing stability to the surrounding neighborhoods. Our client requested that JMT help complete a master plan to guide the enhancements, rehabilitation, and future development of the 15-acre site for public recreation purposes. Additionally, the master planning process explored the history and heritage of the park to further define the significance of “The Commons.”

JMT staff quickly established strong relationships with our client and the City of York. This allowed us to collaboratively develop creative, efficient, and effective strategies to operate, manage, maintain, and program Penn Park. JMT utilized innovative public participation programs to gain an understanding of the communities’ thoughts and concerns pertaining to the overall park operations, including soliciting input from students who attended the high school located adjacent to the park. Specifically, JMT’s commitment to student involvement in the design and development of this master plan exposed students to real world challenges and developed a greater sense of community involvement.

As a result of this planning process, a significant project partner emerged to begin work on implementation of the master plan. JMT worked with the YMCA and the City of York to develop a signature playground for the park that comprised of more than just traditional simple play structures. The park’s historical aspects, and the available classroom resources in the immediate vicinity, made this a viable site for a unique interpretive play area that can extend learning opportunities beyond the classroom.