Friends of Shot Tower Park

Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 129–131 Carpenter Street, the Sparks Shot Tower is a historically significant shot tower. It was one of the first shot towers in the United States when it opened on July 4, 1808. It was constructed just west of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church, at Front and Carpenter Streets, close to the Delaware River Waterfront.

Prior to the Embargo Act of 1807, lead shot supplies were imported from Europe. The tower was constructed by plumbers James Clement, John Bishop, and Thomas Sparks to capitalize on the scarce supply. The tower was originally intended to make shots for hunters, but it also manufactured ammunition for the American Civil War and the War of 1812.

The tower operated by four generations of the Sparks Family for over a century until 1903. In 1913, the City of Philadelphia bought the site which is now managed by the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation. They managed to turn the Tower into a playground and public recreation center. They later added a wading pool in the early 1920s and the splash pad in 2013 which many of you have enjoyed.