The Loop at Fairmount Park
The park became a public park in 1855 when Henry Pratt bequeathed his estate and lands around it to the city. The river, however, had always attracted leisurely pursuits. Many wealthy Philadelphians, such as Pratt, built country estates near the river. Many of these hosues have become part of the park system and are open to visitors. In the colonial times, public celebrations were held on the banks of the river. In 1774, a few years before Independence, hundreds of Philadelphians flocked to the banks of the Schuylkill to celebrate the King George III birthday.
Today, the park attracts numerous outdoor enthusiasts. Picnickers, fisherman, rowers, bikers, runners, and walkers all mingle on the sidewalks and open pastures in the perk system.
Below are photographs I took as I rode my bike around "the loop" an eight mile track that begins on the eastern banks of the Schuylkill at Locust Street near Rittenhouse Square past the Art Museum over the East Falls Bridge and then down the western bank to the Art Museum. It is a fantastic ride and there are a number of routes off of it in which one can explore all the other parts of the park. (Click on the images for a larger view)
Start of the Loop near Center City. Walnut Street Bridge in the foreground with Amtrak's 30th Street Station and the recently opened office building, the Cira Centre, in the background.
The Cira Centre is the most recently opened skyscraper in Philadelphia. Prior to the building of the Cira Centre, all skyscrapers had been built on the other side of the river. The Cira Centre is part of a redevelopment effort aimed at West Philadelphia. The Cira Centre, which offers tenants a reduced tax burden, has, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal, attracted a number of new businesses and sports an elegant restaurant on its first floor.
A view west from the Waterworks. The Schuykill Falls, Boathouse Row and the Channel 6 balloon that is stationed at the Philadelphia Zoo, the oldest zoo in the United States.
View of Boathouse Row from the Waterworks 
Boathouse Row has ten houses for local Crew teams, many from local colleges, who compete on the river. These Crew temas compose the Schuylkill Navy.
A view of the the Waterworks with the Art Museum and skyline in the background. The picture folowing is a view west from the portico at the Waterworks.
The Waterworks today is a restaurant. A very fine one at that. In fact, it houses the only "water bar" in Philadelphia. If you wish, rather than imbibe alcoholic beverages, the Waterworks offers a selection of bottled, pure water to complement your meal. They have even gone so far as to higher a specialist who can advise restraunt-goers on the type of water that best suits their meal choices. Interested? You can read more about it here.
Providing water to customers is not new for the Waterworks, although the quality of water it specializes in certainly is. The facility was the first facility in the United States meant to provide for a public water supply. The site served as the waterworks as early as 1812, although only as a pump. Its current Greco-Roman design was built in the middle of the nineteenth century and was operational until the early twentieth century. The Waterworks had fallen into disrepair, but, as these pictures show, has recently undergone a multimillion dollar restoration and is now a wonderful spot for lunch or dinner. There is also a museum that chronicles the history of the waterworks, which was innovative for its time.