Named for the modest green space at 50th Street and Baltimore Avenue, does Cedar Park sound familiar to you? This unique slice of West Philadelphia shows an overtly Bohemian vibe. The neighborhood has a respective cultural diversity.
Cedar Park sits in West Philadelphia. It stretches from 46th to 52nd streets. Larchwood and Kingsessing avenues seal it to the north and south.
Once, this area was farmland. But between 1850 and 1910, Cedar Park transformed into a streetcar suburb. The installation of horsecars in the 1850s started this development. The arrival of electric trolley lines in 1892 further accelerated it.
The city purchased the land for Cedar Park in 1908. In 1911, a city ordinance officially declared it Cedar Park. The Cedar Avenue Improvement Organization may have inspired the name. They led efforts to ensure there was a park.
Today much of the historic Queen Anne-style architecture still stands. Since 2000, Cedar Park has been undergoing gentrification. The University of Pennsylvania’s redevelopment plan for West Philadelphia stimulated this.
Cedar Park has a distinct progressive-politics feel. A sizable African immigrant community resides along Baltimore Avenue. This is between 46th and 49th Streets.
In the late 1880s and early 1890s trolley lines linked West Philadelphia to Center City. Electrification of the lines occurred in the mid-1890s. Residents could commute more conveniently by electrified trolleys. They could also use a Pennsylvania Railroad commuter line. This line had a station stop at 49th Street and Chester Avenue. Farms made way for suburban housing developments.
Entrepreneurial contractors bought land. They built groups of houses on speculation. This attracted families from more congested areas. These families would commute to the city. Queen Anne semi-detached houses or “twins” became common. These houses were attractive to city dwellers. Broad tree-lined streets were appealing. The porch-front houses with bay windows and balconies were new.
Fine churches were built in the early 1900s. These served the growing community. St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church rose at 47th and Springfield.
Cedar Park has become more diverse over the years. However, the community continues to find ways to work together.
Baltimore Avenue boomed with businesses. A firehouse opened in 1904. It housed Truck Company 13. Today, it is the Firehouse Market. Another group was the Cedar Avenue Improvement Association. They pressured the city into developing Cedar Park.
Baltimore Avenue shines as a nouveau-Boho showpiece. The diversity here reaches in all directions.
Large Victorian homes sit on broad tree-lined sidewalks in Cedar Park. Many feature steep roofs and large front porches. Many are twin style or single family. They have patio space in the rear.
There is a large sense of community here. There are neighborhood associations residents can join. There are church communities and family-friendly events year-round. One resident claimed neighbors from 21 different countries.
Local businesses, restaurants, and vendors sell items for just $1 a handful of times throughout the year. This is during the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll. Cedar Park hosts nights of live music during the summer. It screens movies on warm summer nights. You can often find jazz bands playing in the park.
So next time you are in Cedar Park take a stroll. Take in the sights and sounds. You will experience the Bohemian vibe. You can appreciate the diverse culture.