- This event has passed.
Discovering: Pastorius Park
Discovering: Pastorius Park
A Century of Design, Stewardship, and Renewal
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Virtual, via Zoom | 7:00–8:30 PM
Registration: $20 for conservancy members | $25 for non-members
Advance registration is required.
Join the Chestnut Hill Conservancy for a two-part edition of Discovering focused on Pastorius Park. The series opens with a virtual lecture on Wednesday, February 11, exploring a century of design, stewardship, and renewal, followed by a moderated Q&A.
Nestled in the heart of Chestnut Hill, in Northwest Philadelphia, Pastorius Park is far more than a neighborhood green. Designed and constructed during the New Deal era and shaped by earlier Olmsted Brothers planning efforts, the park reflects a long arc of civic vision, community advocacy, and evolving stewardship. Join landscape historian Rob Fleming, ASLA, and park steward James McNabb for a richly illustrated lecture exploring newly compiled research from their forthcoming Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) submission.
Drawing from historic drawings, rare archival photographs, and contemporary documentation, the talk traces the park’s origins as an unrealized traffic circle, its transformation under WPA designers such as Frederick W. Peck and Stephen Ford, and the significant restoration and ecological renewal efforts led by the Friends of Pastorius Park from 1987 to the present. The program will also preview new GIS-based mapping and tree inventory work completed in partnership with the Morris Arboretum.
This session will conclude with Q&A. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of Pastorius Park as a rare example of an intact 1930s civic landscape that now serves as a Level I accredited arboretum and a model for community-driven stewardship.
About the speakers:
Robert J. Fleming:
Robert “Rob” Fleming is a landscape architect who serves as the Conservancy’s Conservation Committee Chair and Programs Co-Chair and serves on the Preservation Committee and the Easement Committee. “Rob” earned his professional degree from the University of Pennsylvania and began his career at Hanna/Olin (now OLIN) at the firm’s founding in 1977. After a seven-year apprenticeship, he established an independent practice and later moved his office to Chestnut Hill. His local work includes projects along Germantown Avenue, the restoration of the gardens at Krisheim, and a long collaboration with the Friends of Pastorius Park that continues today.
Rob has been a lecturer in historic preservation and served on the Board of Overseers at Penn’s Graduate School of Fine Arts (now the Weitzman School of Design). He has held leadership roles with the Highlands Historical Society, Morris Arboretum, and the Wyck Association. A native Iowan, he maintains his family farm as a demonstration of conservation practices and sustainable agriculture.
James McNabb:
James McNabb is a park steward, arboriculture advocate, and community volunteer who serves on the Conservancy’s Conservation Committee and Programs Committee. As a community volunteer, his work focuses on landscape restoration, tree care, civic engagement, and long-term stewardship planning throughout Chestnut Hill.
James is Vice President of Friends of Pastorius Park, where he helps guide long-term planning, restoration efforts, planting and maintenance strategies, and the park’s expanding arboretum development. He collaborates with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, the Morris Arboretum’s Urban Forestry team, the Chestnut Hill Tree Tenders, and local volunteers to support resilient, historically informed green spaces.
An accomplished artist, James holds a Master of Fine Arts from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in woodworking and furniture design from the Rochester Institute of Technology. His sculptural work, recognized for intricate cityscape-inspired forms, has been exhibited internationally and is included in private collections worldwide. His combined experience in art, craft, and environmental stewardship informs his holistic approach to public landscapes and community engagement.
Registration:
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Virtual, via Zoom | 7:00–8:30 PM
Registration: $20 for conservancy members | $25 for non-members
Advance registration is required.
About the Discovering series
The Discovering series, one of the Conservancy’s signature public programs, spotlights the area’s rich architecture, history, and natural beauty through guided tours and lectures. Conservancy members enjoy discounted tickets and exclusive access to events, fostering deeper connections throughout Northwest Philadelphia and the Wissahickon watershed.
The Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s public programming is made possible through the generous support of our Lead Sponsor, Chubb, General Sponsors, Event Sponsors, and members.