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February, 2013 |
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Dear Friends:
2012 was a very successful year for Philadelphia Parks & Recreation in terms of accomplishments, partnerships and positive impact within the City’s neighborhoods. Each and every PPR Staff person deserves to be proud and take ownership of what we have achieved this past year. None of OUR successes would have been possible without the collective investment of time, energy and caring from each segment of our department. You all have demonstrated time and time again that Philadelphia Parks & Recreation has the will and ability to make good things happen. But even more importantly, you have consistently shown your desire to do well, and this certainly has not gone unnoticed. The constituent support we have routinely received is in response to your consistent efforts, and the mid-year budget increase we received is incredible testimony to the value we have created and the regard that the City Administration holds for Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
2013 is already off to a busy start but as we address current demands, we should not deny ourselves the opportunity to pause and look back on this past year’s impressive achievements. Our retrospective is a bit short of the full calendar year because we did not publish a newsletter the entire year (this is one more notable accomplishment) but still, there is plenty to appreciate before we roll up our sleeves for another year.
As just mentioned, this year is shaping up to be a busy one and in line with our commitment to keep you informed, we will be holding “All Staff” meetings on Wednesday, February 20th at various times and locations throughout the city. Our meeting topics will include an overview of the department’s upcoming “branding” process along with a discussion of “System Coherence” projects that are designed to both advance our work and increase cross-division collaboration. And of course, we will dedicate time to outline the spending plan that was developed in relation to our recent budget increase. Further information regarding the times and locations of these meeting is contained elsewhere in this newsletter and I look forward to you joining us at one of the scheduled meetings.
Congratulations and Thank You All.
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Year in Review/Best of 2012
May 2012
First Internal Newsletter |
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I am pleased to present the first edition of PPR’s Staff Newsletter, an internal communication intended for you.
This newsletter was developed through a shared desire to keep our fellow workers more informed and involved in the broad scope of the Department’s daily responsibilities. I envision this newsletter as a tool that helps build staff awareness and recognition of the key role that we, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, play in the life of this great City.
READ MORE
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June/July 2012
Pool and Sprayground Season is Here! |
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In 1973, Randy Bachman penned the working man’s anthem sufficiently titled, “Taking Care of Business.” And 39 years later, Bachman’s blue collar, “get the job done right” lyrics could be the theme song for a crew of four skilled tradesmen working in Parks & Recreation’s Northern Division.
Deep in the belly and innards of the 36 swimming pools that make up the Northern District, you’ll find Mike Finn, Donald Bear, Joe Rainis and Jeff Bass who we’re nicknaming “The Boys of Summer.” This foursome is working above and beyond the call of duty to get pools operational for the 2012 Summer Pool Season.
READ MORE
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August 2012
Uniting Cobbs Creek Park |
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On Saturday, June 16th, Parks and Recreation organized a bus tour through Cobbs Creek Park that turned into what could be called, a family reunion. |
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The tour brought together an eclectic bunch of people—residents, organized Friends, neighborhood groups, and representatives from our great partner the Philadelphia Water Department—all of whom take care of their own parts of the Cobbs Creek Park system but, because of its vast geography, were not necessarily aware of their fellow advocates and allies.
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September 2012
Play Street in Park Program Focuses on McPherson Square |
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You cannot hide the elephant in the room when it comes to the reputation of McPherson Square Park, located in the shadow of the Market-Frankford El at F Street and Indiana Avenue. Dubbed “Needle Park” for decades because of the drug culture surrounding the location, it would be the last place you would think a summer day camp or community center could flourish.
But on the lawns and pathways of McPherson Square you’ll find wiffle ball games, horseshoe tournaments and a pick-up game of soccer or Frisbee along with a hose sprinkler cooling down the kids during this summer’s heat waves.
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October 2012
By the Numbers: Summer Programs Overview |
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Aquatics
- Visits at our pools increased slightly from 1,031,262 to 1,034,864.
- Upwards of 3,000 people were given swim lessons, consistent with previous years.
Day Camps
- All eight districts grew
- Four net new day camps
- Of those locations with camps last year, overall growth averaged 21%
- Day camps grew 13%
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November 2012
Michael O’Brien Receives Access Achievement Award |
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On October 19, Horticulture Center Supervisor Michael O’Brien received an Access Achievement Award given by the Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities for the City of Philadelphia at its 16th Annual Access Achievement Awards Breakfast. Mike was one of nine award recipients honored for their outstanding efforts to improve and increase access for persons with disabilities throughout the Delaware Valley.
In her nomination essay, Director of KenCrest EmployNet Rita Mandik, recounted how Mike reached out to express interest in employing students with disabilities as seasonal workers/interns. Of his interest in using this as a pilot program for other departments, Rita said, "His belief in the abilities of these young people and his desire to share this belief with others was just amazing."
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December 2012
Tarken Ice Rink Ribbon Cutting |
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photo credit to Mitchell Leff |
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On November 9 Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Parks & Recreation leadership and members of the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation celebrated the grand reopening of the newly refurbished Tarken Ice Rink.
The completion of the Tarken Ice Rink project is the last in a series of four projects to fully enclose and renovate PPR ice rinks. The other rinks are: The Laura Sims Skatehouse in West Philadelphia (reopened on November 22, 2011), the Scanlon Ice Rink in Kensington (reopened on November 29, 2011), and the Simons Rink in West Oak Lane (reopened December 9, 2011).
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January 2013 |
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On December 18, 2012, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation held its annual awards ceremony for staff who have served the department for 25 years as well as retirees.
View the list of 25-year employees and retirees
VIEW PICTURES OF THE EVENT
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
| Special thanks to: |
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| Barry Bessler |
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Linda Turner |
| Carol Roache |
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Marc Wilken |
| Cynthia D. Douglas |
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Marissa Washington |
| Darren Fava |
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Michael O'Brien and the Horticulture Center Staff |
| Erica Young and Ervin Smith |
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Moria Miller |
| Facetta Garrison-Green |
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Pamela James |
| Felicia Anderson |
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Patty-Pat Kozlowski |
| Gail O'Brien |
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Steven Jacobs |
| Karen Smack |
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Valerie Arhondakis |
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We had 5,835 volunteers out of the total number of volunteers this year, more than HALF were returning volunteers.
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Announcements
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All Staff Meetings
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All Parks & Recreation staff members are invited to join Deputy Mayor Michael DiBerardinis and First Deputies Mark Focht and Susan Slawson to hear firsthand about merger updates and upcoming projects. READ MORE
Items to be discussed include:
- Update on the new money and spending plan
- Follow ups on safety, communications and branding; coherence model projects; and an opportunity for staff to provide feedback.
While not mandatory, all are encouraged to attend.
- Wednesday, February 20
- 9:00 a.m.- 10:30 a.m. Fox Chase
- 11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. Carousel House
- 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Shissler
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Instructors Needed
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Juniata Park Older Adult Center, located at 1251 E. Sedgley Avenue (215-685-1490), is currently looking for instructors in the following areas:
- Zumba Gold - classes on Tuesday and/or Thursday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m.
- Tai Chi classes - time to be decided
- Yoga classes - time to be decided
- Please call Colleen Harmer at (215) 685-1490 if you know an instructor who may be interested.
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Editor’s Note
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The PPR newsletter has come a long way since our first edition in April 2012, and there is plenty of thanks to go around to all who have shared articles, ideas, photos and something of themselves within the pages of our publication. The newsletter has been a “value added” enterprise for the department that has helped staff get to know each other a little better and to gain a broader understanding of the diverse responsibilities to which Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is held accountable. It has also been eye-opening to see just how many people external to our department are interested in receiving our newsletter. We routinely share our newsletter with the Mayor’s Office, City Council, fellow municipal agencies and organizational partners. I have also seen our monthly newsletters posted on bulletin boards during visits to recreation facilities; thank you for helping us get our message out.
As a result of the rising interest and request for information, we have increased our ability to communicate and share information with staff and with our numerous constituent groups through the routine use of social media. And, as a feature on our new website, we will be posting a “public” version the newsletter for all to see and enjoy.
Within the coming month, we will be distributing a “Communications Menu” that outlines the various communication tools that are now being consistently used to broadcast department information. This document will also outline the key role you play in our communication strategy and how you can be involved. We are truly appreciative of all that you have already contributed but quite honestly, we would like to hear from more of you and more often. Please let us know what you think; we are all in this together. Thanks.
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