Liberty Bell Park was an American
race track
A race track (racetrack, racing track or racing circuit) is a facility built for racing of vehicles, athletes, or animals (e.g. horse racing or greyhound racing). A race track also may feature grandstands or concourses. Race tracks are also use ...
in
Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia, nicknamed Northeast Philly, the Northeast and the Great Northeast, is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the 2000 census, Northeast Philadelphia has a population of between 300,000 and 450,000, depending ...
that held
harness racing and
Thoroughbred horse racing
Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...
from 1963 until 1986.
''Philadelphia Inquirer'' - May 13, 1986 article titled "LIBERTY BELL PARK IS SOLD"
/ref> The site, northeast of the intersection of Knights and Woodhaven Roads, was derived from several farms and smaller farmettes.
Gordon's Mill Rd, a street off of Knights Road east to the bridge over the Poquessing Creek, was stricken and vacated from the Philadelphia city plan in 1962 to make way for the racing facility. Gravel Pike, now Byberry Road, extended east to the Poquessing Creek where a small bridge carried the road into Bucks County
Bucks County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 646,538, making it the fourth-most populous county in Pennsylvania. Its county seat is Doylestown. The county is named after the English ...
; now it is a closed bridge. Creek Edge Gardens is still located in the 4300 block of Byberry Road, one of the last vestiges of the pre-1962 style of homes and business in this once pristine area.
The harness track was a track, but when thoroughbred racing was made legal in 1968, a track was built using the homestretch and front of the harness track until Keystone Race Track (now Parx Casino and Racing
Parx Casino and Racing (formerly Philadelphia Park Racetrack and Casino) is a thoroughbred horse racing venue and the largest casino gaming complex in Pennsylvania. Parx is located in Bensalem Township in Bucks County, northeast of the city of P ...
) was built in 1974.
The Philadelphia Mills
Philadelphia Mills (formerly and still referred to as Franklin Mills) is an enclosed shopping mall in Northeast Philadelphia, bordering Bensalem in Bucks County and from Center City. Formerly named for Benjamin Franklin, the mall is home to 1 ...
shopping center now stands on the site, along with other stores such as Dick's Sporting Goods and Big Lots
Big Lots Stores, Inc. (stylized as Big Lots!) is an American retail company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio with over 1,400 stores in 47 states.
History
The Big Lots chain traces its history back to 1967 when Consolidated Stores Corporation ...
.
References
Defunct horse racing venues in Pennsylvania
History of Philadelphia
1963 establishments in Pennsylvania
1986 disestablishments in Pennsylvania
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