Trolley park

In the United States, trolley parks, which started in the 19th century, were picnic and recreation areas at the ends of streetcar lines, created by the streetcar companies to give people a reason to use their services on weekends. These parks consisted of picnic groves and pavilions, and often held events such as dances, concerts, and fireworks. Many eventually added features such as carousels, ferris wheels, and other rides. However, with the increasing number of automobiles in use, trolley parks gradually declined and some disappeared. Others survived and developed into amusement parks.

File:Contoocook River Amusement Park, Concord, New Hampshire.jpg

The Contoocook River Amusement Park

Note: the light-rail vehicle known in the US as the trolley is known in some other countries as the tram, trolleybus or streetcar. In Britain, a "trolley park" is a holding area for supermarket trolleys (called shopping carts in the US).

List of trolley parks

• Bonnie Brae Park, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
• Bushkill Park, Easton, Pennsylvania [1]
• Canobie Lake Park, Salem, New Hampshire [2]
• Chevy Chase Lake, formerly in Chevy Chase, Maryland
• Contoocook River Amusement Park, formerly in Concord, New Hampshire [3]
• Glen Echo Park (Maryland), formerly in Glen Echo, Maryland
• Great Falls Park (operated by Washington and Old Dominion Railway), formerly in Great Falls, Virginia
• Idora Park, Oakland, California
• Kennywood, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Lake Compounce, Bristol, Connecticut
• Luna Park, formerly in Arlington, Virginia
• Manawa Park, Council Bluffs, Iowa. Closed in 1928.
• Midway Park, Maple Springs, New York [4]
• Mountain Park, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• Norumbega Park, Newton, Massachusetts
• Oaks Amusement Park, Portland, Oregon. Opened on May 30, 1905
• Olentangy Park, formerly in Columbus, Ohio
• Paxtang Park, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
• Pine Island Park, formerly in Manchester, New Hampshire [5]
• Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury, Connecticut [6]
• Riverhurst Park, Weston Mills, New York
• Rock City Park, Allegany, New York
• Suburban Gardens, Washington, D.C.
• West View Park, West View, Pennsylvania
• Willow Grove Park, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.Opened on May 30, 1896. Closed in 1976.