Fairview Park, Historic retreat center in Salem Township, Pennsylvania.
Fairview Park is a 53-acre recreational site along Old Route 22 in Salem Township, Westmoreland County, featuring sports fields and open green spaces. The facility spans natural landscapes with multiple gathering areas designed for community use.
The Monongahela Valley Sunday School Association established Fairview Park in 1945 as a recreational space during the period of racial segregation in the United States. The site emerged from a need for African American communities to have dedicated recreational spaces.
The park was a vital gathering place for the African American community, featuring rides, skating, swimming, and sports activities that served families and groups in the region. These recreational options made it a social center during a time when many public facilities were segregated.
The site is accessible from Old Route 22 with roads leading to different areas within the grounds. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the terrain includes open fields and natural pathways throughout the property.
The National Register of Historic Places recognized the site in 2010 for its significance as an African American spiritual and cultural gathering space. This recognition honored its historical role during the segregation era.
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