Forest Park Chalfont Pa

During the early part of the last century small amusement parks dotting the landscape of the Philadelphia suburbs.  Most of these small amusement park went along the railroad lines coming out of Philadelphia. These now long defunct amusement parks are nothing more than ghostly remains if anything remains of these old parks at all. 

Forest Park, also known as Funk's park, was located in Chalfont along the Pine Run and Neshaminy creek.  Forest Park was known as a  picnic area with many people taking mini vacations in the park along the creek.

In 1885 Forest Park was started with the building of a dining and dancing pavilion.  During the next twenty years Forest Park grew into a very competitive amusement park turning Chalfont into a tourist attraction.  The amusement rides were steam powered and featured a carousel and a early form of roller coaster known as a toboggan ride.  The park also had a bowling alley and dance hall.

Forest park grew in popularity with the addition of the concrete swimming pool.  Built in 1928 Forest Park's swimming pool was one of the largest in the country at 75 X100'.  

Forest Park continued to thrive and made it through the Depression while many amusement parks were abandoned.  The biggest draw for the park was the corporate picnics that came in from Philadelphia.  One of the picnics was Franklin Sugar which had a large African American workforce.  Due to the ignorance of the local Chalfont people the pool was closed "for repairs" so the African American employees would not be able use it. 

The 1940's were the highlight of Forest Park (maybe even Chalfont's) fame.  Stars from Hollywood and some of the big bands performed at the park. In 1947 President Truman was at the closing ceremony for the amusement park's season.   Many different rides were added during this time period.  The picnic grove was expanded to hold close to 10,000 people.  To give a perspective the population of Chalfont in 2000 was about 3977.  The grove in Forest Park could hold the entire town of Chalfont three times over!

Hurricane Diane swept through the Delaware Valley in 1955 damaging the park.  Local Taxes and cheaper cars cost Forest Park many patrons.  Finally, in an attempt to draw patrons the park allowed alcohol to be permitted Forest Park lost it's "family" appeal.

The event which many believe cost Chalfont it's beloved amusement park was the Forest Park Race Riot in 1958.  Not many people think of a place like Chalfont when it comes to race relations, but Memorial Day weekend at Forest Park an all out riot occurred.

Over 20,000 people were ventured to Chalfont for the holiday weekend.  The riot began in the dining hall and spread throughout the park.  Local and State police were called in to stop the violence.  Park patrons scattered into the woods in an attempt to escape the riot. 

Forest Park closed for the entire 1958 and 1959 seasons following the FBI investigation into the race riot.  The Chalfont economy went 2 entire summers without their famous park.  

The park was re opened following a change in owners, but never regained it's former glory status.  A segregated swimming area  was created called "Lake Suzanne" in order to help racial tensions in the park.  Failing equipment and the lack of local support caused the attendance in the park to suffer.  Before the 1964 season began "Lake Suzanne" was closed for health reasons.

Forest Park closed for good following the 1964 season.  Some of the land has been developed into townhouses with streets that have a carnival theme.  Most of Forest Park has been reclaimed by nature, only a few remnant are still visible.  The grand picnic grove that attracted thousands of people to Chalfont now stands in ruin with concrete supports lined up as tombstones in the graveyard of this long abandoned amusement park.