The field at the heart of Clark

Long before the duty-free shops and casino hotels, Clark was Fort Stotsenburg, a US Cavalry post. Its centre was a wide parade field where soldiers drilled, held concerts and played polo.

That field is still here. Now called the Clark Parade Grounds, it was renovated by the Clark Development Corporation in 2015, with a 2.2 km rubberized jogging path, new lights and football facilities. The old Fort Stotsenburg gateposts were kept as side entrances, so every morning jogger passes through a piece of the post.

Lonely Planet points out the early 20th-century barn houses along the field's edge, which once housed American soldiers. One end is home to the Clark Museum and 4D Theater, which tells the story of Clark from 1901 through the Mt Pinatubo eruption to the Freeport Zone.

Remembering

A short drive away, near the former main gate, the Clark Veterans Cemetery has kept the memory of the base since 1948. Almost 8,600 people are buried there, among them about 650 Philippine Scouts and more than 2,100 unknowns. After years of volunteer care, the cemetery is now managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Running into the future

On weekends the grounds fill with runners. In November 2026 alone the field hosts the Clark Phil-Kor Half Marathon, while the HOKA Midnight Run brings a night race to Clark. A cavalry field has become Clark's running track, and its history is still close enough to touch.