MARCH, 2017

Dear Staff:

Punxsutawney Phil may have predicted six more weeks of winter, but we’re already shifting our gears toward the warmer months. The Stewardship team hosted another great training conference for our Friends groups on February 4, in preparation for peak park usage; our water safety instructors are holding screenings for potential lifeguards; TreePhilly is gearing up for spring yard tree giveaways; our second cohort of Recreation Leader Trainees and Recreation Leader I’s are halfway through the Recreation Leader Training Academy; and summer camp registration has opened at many of our sites.

In light of the oncoming spring and summer seasons (of which we’re getting a preview right now), the timing of our Customer Service Boot Camp couldn’t have been better. Thank you to everyone who attended and provided feedback on the sessions. Many of our own staff members are customer service experts already, but it was refreshing to get the advice and perspective of colleagues from a peer municipal parks and recreation agency. I hope you will find their recommendations useful in your interactions with each other and with community members. Beginning next month, we’ll include a few customer service tips in each newsletter issue to keep this commitment on the top of our minds.

Lastly, I’m excited for my first Chat & Chew with staff members tomorrow. I hope these lunches will be a great way for staff to share ideas, learn more about the department, and meet colleagues. Please sign up for the March Chat & Chew by emailing gail.o’brien@phila.gov.

Thank you.

Kathryn Ott Lovell

PPR Celebrates Black History Month

This month, PPR and our partners celebrated Black History Month with educational posts, art contests, special events and more! Here are a few ways we’ve honored African-American history in February:

• Blog post: Parks & Playgrounds Named After African Americans
• Blog post: All Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers and Sailors
• Contest: Black History Month Art Contest
• Event: It Was Named for a Hero (Feb. 27 at Mander Playground)
• Exhibit: Freedom to Go Forth (Historic Strawberry Mansion)

Maple Sugar Days

Maple sugar season has begun, and our environmental centers and partner organizations are celebrating with Maple Sugar Days throughout the next few weeks. At Maple Sugar Day, participants will learn every step in the maple sugaring process, from tapping the tree to creating the final maple product. There will also be crafts, games, storytelling and delicious snacks. All ages are welcome!

Find a Maple Sugar Day near you

Performances in Public Spaces Grants

Performances in Public Spaces is a program that delivers meaningful, cultural experiences in Philadelphia’s communities and provides opportunities for Philadelphians and their families to see high quality performances in their neighborhoods for free. Based in parks and plazas around the city, past performances have staged Shakespeare-in-the-Park, circus theatre, and hip-hop dance.

Philadelphia artists, individuals and organizations are invited to partner with one or more designated Performances in Public Spaces locations on the submission of proposals for free neighborhood-based public performances in 2017. Interested applicants must select from the list of pre-approved locations listed in the Application Guidelines. The deadline to apply is 5pm on March 27, 2017.

Submit a grant application for you or your group to perform in one of Philadelphia’s public spaces this summer!

Summer Camp Registration

Summer camp registration has started for some neighborhood day camps and specialty camps, like visual arts, performing arts, rowing camp, and more!

Learn about the different camps we offer or contact your local recreation center or playground for more information.

Play-A-Palooza 2017

Saturday, March 25, 12-4pm

Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse

Families, enjoy special games and activities in the 6 1/2 acre Smith Memorial Playground before the official start its outdoor season (April through December)!

Tickets are $10/child (accompanying adults free) or free for Smith members. Learn more about the event and purchase tickets.

Meet Lori Hayes, PPR’s New Director of Urban Forestry

Recently, we sat down with Lori Hayes to learn more about her experiences working for Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and her new role as Director of Urban Forestry. Find out how her career with the department evolved from coming on board as a Penn State summer student intern in June of 1981 to being selected as the person to manage Philadelphia’s urban forest.

Read our interview with Lori Hayes

Venice Island Spring Lineup

Venice Island Performing Arts & Recreation Center has big plans for the spring season, ranging from poetry, to theater, to concerts, improv, dance and more!

Check out some of the Venice Island spring highlights

Second Season of Parks on Tap Opens May 17

On February 9, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Fairmount Park Conservancy and FCM Hospitality announced the return of Parks on Tap, the mobile beer garden that launched last summer. Continuing it contract with the City, FCM will again provide fresh food, beer on tap, wine, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages in a festive outdoor environment featuring comfortable chairs and hammocks, clean restrooms and family friendly activities.

This year, Parks on Tap will kick off on Wednesday, May 17 during LOVE Your Park Week and travel to a different park each week for 20 weeks before concluding the season on Sunday, October 1. The partners see Parks on Tap as a way to encourage Philadelphians to explore the extensive park system.

Stay tuned to the Parks on Tap website for updates

Job Opportunity: Public Relations Associate

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) seeks a part-time associate to assist with public relations strategies and press event management. Responsibilities will include writing press releases and media advisories; developing media pitches and executive talking points; press event planning and execution; staffing special events; media relations; and more.

Download the full Public Relations Associate job description (PDF)

Monument Lab

Earlier this month, Mural Arts Philadelphia announced the roster of 22 artists, hailing from Philadelphia and from locations around the world, who will create temporary public art in 10 locations across the city for Monument Lab this fall. Monument Lab is a nine-week citywide public art and history project co-produced by Mural Arts Philadelphia and curators Paul Farber, Ken Lum, and A. Will Brown. The exhibition will take place September 16 through November 19, 2017, in the five original William Penn Center City squares (City Hall, Franklin Square, Washington Square, Logan Circle, and Rittenhouse Square) as well as five neighborhood parks (Penn Treaty Park, Vernon Park, Norris Square, Malcolm X Park, and Marconi Plaza) throughout the City of Philadelphia. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is proud to host this exiting exhibition in its parks!

Learn more about Monument Lab

Arts & Artists Outdoors Spring Session

Beginning March 6, Arts & Artists Outdoors (A2O), a free partnered program with Mural Arts Philadelphia that combines art education with environmental awareness, will return to five PPR sites:

Interested students ages 10-14 can register on site for this FREE program!
Learn more about the A2O program

Vetri Mobile Teaching Kitchen at Clark Park

Another reason to visit the Clark Park Farmers’ Market during its 20th season: The Vetri Community Partnership’s Mobile Teaching Kitchen is providing cooking demonstrations using the fresh, seasonal produce available at this Food Trust market! On Saturday, March 18 and Saturday, April 15 at 11:30 a.m., visit the Mobile Teaching Kitchen for a hands-on cooking demonstration experience.

New Staff: Michael A. Gall

Michael A. Gall joined Philadelphia Parks & Recreation last month as a Geographic Information Systems Specialist in the Planning, Preservation, and Property Management unit.

Coming from a military family, Mike was born on the island of Guam, but his family soon relocated to South Jersey when his father was stationed at the Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard in 1979. He grew up in a house at the edge of a large open space in Willingboro, a planned community, and so has always held community planning and greenfield preservation issues in high regard.

Learn more about Michael

City Launches Out of School Time Initiative

On February 16, Philadelphia’s Out-of-School (OST) Time Initiative was formally launched by Mayor Jim Kenney, City officials, OST providers and other stakeholders. The Out-of-School Time (OST) Initiative seeks to create a shared and coordinated approach to OST programming among the City, schools, providers, philanthropy and the community. This effort will be focused on ensuring that before school, afterschool, weekend programming and summer programs are quality and that they effectively address our at-risk children’s most pressing needs, namely early literacy, asthma, obesity, and food insecurity.

 The three City departments that provide the most out-of-school time programming, Department of Human Services, Parks & Recreation and the Free Library, spend more than $41M annually in supporting 187,000 youth. By aligning and coordinating citywide OST programming, the City can ensure the greatest impact for the young people we serve and align our spending with existing initiatives, such as PHLpreK, Rebuild, community schools, the Read by 4th campaign and Dr. Hite’s Action Plan 3.0.

Continue reading about the Out-of-School Time Initiative  

TreePhilly Spring Yard Tree Giveaway Registration

It’s a tree for all! Each spring and fall, TreePhilly’s Yard Tree Giveaway program provides free trees for city dwellers to plant on private property. Trees provided through this program must be planted in the ground (a grassy area or lawn) on private property in Philadelphia, and may not be planted in a container or in the sidewalk.

Registration for the Spring 2017 Yard Tree Giveaway events will open on Monday, February 27, 2017! Visit the TreePhilly website for more information.

Start Swimming NOW!

Know a teen who’ll need a summer job? Get them started on the path to becoming a lifeguard NOW! Lifeguards must be 16 years or older, must pass a free lifeguard screening test, and must complete 21.5 hours of lifeguard training, first aid, and CPR. Starting salary is $12.33 an hour. There are four local training sites, which are open year-round, where the screening can be completed.

Learn more about becoming a PPR lifeguard

East Passyunk Community Recreation Center Celebrates Women’s History Month

Eleanor Roosevelt–Part I: The Early Years Benefit Performance

Thursday, March 16, 7-8pm

East Passyunk Community Recreation Center (1025 Mifflin Street)

Written and performed by Rene Goodwin, this dramatization presents First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt as a very human woman who faced personal challenges she overcame to become a world leader and a universal inspiration. Admission to this benefit performance is $5; children under 12 free with adult.

Learn more about Eleanor Roosevelt–Part I: The Early Years

Outdoor Adventure Club

This spring, PPR is piloting an Outdoor Adventure Club at Houston and Junod Playgrounds. Examples of the activities for registered children are: hiking, camping skills, disk golf, geocaching, orienteering, photography, woodland crafts, birding, creek studies, and edible plants.

Wednesdays between March 29 and April 26, 2017, from 4-6pm

Houston Playground (900 Grakyn Lane, 19128) & Junod Playground (12770 Dunks Ferry Road, 19154)

Boys and girls, ages 8-12

$25.00 registration fee (includes all activities, supplies and a T-Shirt). Registration is taken on a first-come, first-serve basis.

To download a registration form, visit http://bit.ly/2jGp2Df. To learn more, contact Katie Ann Wimsey at Katie.a.wimsey@phila.gov or 215-685-0487.

2017 Unity Cup Info Sessions

It’s time to gear up for the 2017 Philadelphia International Unity Cup! Learn how to register a team in this year’s tournament by attending one of the general information sessions listed below:

Learn more about the Unity Cup tournament, including what’s new this year

Miss the Broad Street Run Lottery?

Don’t worry if you missed the Blue Cross Broad Street lottery-- join Fairmount Park Conservancy’s team of park champions and raise funds for the historic Belmont Plateau Cross Country Course! Team membership includes lots of perks, lots of fun and a great opportunity to give back to a vital resource.

Join FPC’s Blue Cross Broad Street Run team

Staff Profile: Dan Kronmiller

Dan Kronmiller has worked for Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) for the past eight years. Currently, he is a Grounds Maintenance Worker 3/Crew Chief in PPR’s District 4, which covers parks and recreational facilities in the northwest section of Philadelphia.

We sat down with Dan to learn more about his work for PPR. Find out what Dan had to say.

Philly Foxes

A red fox in the snow is perfection. In the winter, the fox is at its fluffiest and the contrast in color is striking. I witnessed this in January in Cobbs Creek Park. While participating in the Philadelphia Mid-winter Bird Census on a snowy January Saturday, my crew had two sightings of red fox in the Haddington Woods part of the park. These gorgeous little canines are quite common in Philadelphia, if you know where to look for them.

Continue reading about Philly foxes

PPR Tumbling Meets

PPR hosted the Citywide Tumbling Championships on February 17 and 18 at Gustine Recreation Center and Mayfair Recreation Center. More than a dozen teams, composed of kids ages 6-18, competed in the Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Open Championships. The 300+ athletes performed before large crowds, ranging from 200-300 spectators per event.

View more pictures from the Citywide Tumbling Championships at Gustine Recreation Center.

Prior to the championships, PPR districts held qualifying meets. Read recaps and view photos from PPR District 1 (Northeast Philly) and District 2 (River Wards).

2017 Community Propagation Program Begins

The Community Propagation Program at West Fairmount Park’s Horticulture Center is starting its second year! Renting 55 tables that sold out in two weeks with a growing waitlist, Philadelphia growers from around the city are using the space to start the seedlings for their community gardens, nonprofit organizations and small businesses. Everyone from backyard gardeners, to community activists, to flower farmers designers are sharing the space and coming together as a community of growers to beautify the city and share their farming and gardening knowledge with one another.

Continue reading about the 2017 Community Propagation Program

2017 Christa Lewis Soccer Award and Scholarship

Congratulations to Bridesburg Recreation Center's own Caitlyn Hammerstein, who on January 21 was honored with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation's Christa Lewis Soccer Award and Scholarship. Besides her achievements playing soccer for the Bridesburg Cougars, Caitlyn is a three-time Public League Champion- All Public Selection- and All State Selection at Franklin Towne Charter. She has also been involved in many programs at the rec center, and is currently one of our summer lifeguards. We are blessed and honored to call Caitlyn one of our own!

The annual $1,500 scholarship is awarded to a female high school senior who exemplifies good character and takes her program participation to the next level, by refereeing, coaching, or helping out at her clubs or schools.

2017 Sustainable Wood Milling

PPR Ecosystem Management staff, along with PPR Operations staff and Arborists, recently completed milling approximately 4,000 board feet of hardwood lumber. The lumber was milled out of trees from the Philadelphia park system, or as we refer to it, “Neighborhood Wood.” Species milled included high quality white ash, red oak, tulip poplar, black locust, black walnut and one massive paulownia log, from McMichael Park.

Continue reading to find out how this milled wood was used

From Summertime PMA to Starting Point Guard

This January, Max Myers Playground’s own DeAndre Williams got the call to play basketball at Neumann University. DeAndre has been a Pool Maintenance Attendant and part-time worker at the playground for the past two years. He was a standout star at Northeast High School, where he only played his senior year and was the second leading scorer for the public league. He continued his play for one year at Camden County College before having to leave for family reasons. Since joining the Neumann team in January, DeAndre has played 13 games, averaging 21 minutes and 11 points per game. In his last showcase, he played 26 minutes and scored 22 points against Rosemont. The Neumann University Knights have a record of 20-2 and already a playoff birth in the CSAC Postseason.

Top Social Media Report

Over the last month, our followers showed an interest in working with PPR, whether it’s a paid job or a volunteer opportunity. In addition to these opportunities, our followers engaged with posts about winter programs, the Katie Kirlin Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, the return of Parks on Tap, the Star Players’ casting call for their next production, the Broad Street Run lottery, Black History Month, and the City’s sustainability plan (Greenworks: A Vision for a Sustainable Philadelphia).

Download our overview of the top social media posts in the last month.

Butterflies of Spring at Sister Cities Park

Recreation leaders, spring is near… let’s get ready to soar! This activity is a fun way to learn about different species of butterflies and moths.  It is a great way to encourage creativity, teamwork, and planning.  All butterflies must be completed in a Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Facility by program participants.  Programs with participants of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate! 

Learn more about the Butterflies of Spring project

We Are Lady Ravens

“We are the Ravens, the mighty Lady Ravens

Everywhere we go

People want to know who they are where they come from”

Where they come from is McVeigh Recreation Center. The Ravens cheerleaders started at McVeigh in 2013, cheering for the KYAA Pop Warner football team the Kensington Ravens. In January 2014, McVeigh Recreation Center decided to bring them in as part of our center, and the McVeigh Lady Ravens were born. 

Continue reading about the McVeigh Lady Ravens

Recap: Customer Service Boot Camp

Over the course of two days, 631 Philadelphia Parks & Recreation staff participated in Customer Service Boot Camp at Venice Island this February. Annie Olsen and Iris Pahlberg-Peterson from the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board conducted the training. Thank you to everyone who attended, and remember PARK:

Polite (Remember the magic words: please and thank you!)

Anticipate (Anticipate and identify what the customer seeks. Help them choose programs, services or facilities that will meet their needs)

Respect (Remember, our customers choose us. We must recognize and appreciate this.)

Kind (Be cheerful, positive and concerned no matter what the customer has to say)

STEM Restarts at Roosevelt Playground

On January 30, the team of graduate and undergraduates from Villanova University restarted their STEM program at Roosevelt Playground.

The team, led by Dr Bridget Wadzuk, guided students through a series of experiments using waste water and recycling models provided by Kevin from Temple University. Although the ages ranged from 5 to 12, the students were deeply engaged for over an hour thanks to the great instruction from Dr Wadzuk and her students. 

Continue reading about the STEM program at Roosevelt Playground and view more pictures

PAL Day at City Hall: Shakiya T. Roberts as Parks & Rec Commissioner

Let’s get one thing straight: Shakiya T. Roberts wanted to be Commissioner of the Department of Human Services (DHS) for the ceremonial PAL Day at City Hall, an annual event that allows teens involved in the Police Athletic League to shadow government executives.

But she was chosen to be Commissioner of Parks & Recreation instead, and it turned out to be a perfect fit. Continue reading about Shakiya’s day at PPR.

After School Program Trainings

In recent weeks, staff members who work in our after-school programs underwent a series of trainings on a variety of topics. These informative sessions counted toward their 12-15 hours of training that are required each year.

The trainings, which took place at various Philadelphia Parks & Recreation facilities, covered gardening and urban farming, visual arts, and outdoor experiences and environmental education. The sessions were taught by PPR program coordinators in these disciplines.

Continue reading about the recent trainings for After School Program staff

Staff Changes

New Hire, Full Time
Jeffrey Sperry, Recreation Leader Trainee
Charles Stackhouse, HVAC Mechanic 2
Justin Kramer, Painter 1
Joseph Pungitore, Roofer
Jason Rumsey, Roofers
Roy Brokenborough, HVAC Mechanic 2 (Rehire)
Sarah Morris, Recreation Leader Trainee (Reinstatement)
David Smith, Plumbing and Heating Maintenance Worker (Reinstatement)

New Hire, Part Time
Gregory Harling, Assistant Recreation Leader
Eric Williams, Assistant Recreation Leader (Reinstatement)

 Promotion
Jeffrey Bass, Plumbing and Heating Maintenance Group Leader
Stephen Brescia, Plumbing and Heating Maintenance Group Leader
Jigar Modi, Accountant
Damon Cunningham, Recreation Leader 3
Alexander Hughes-Taylor, Recreation Leader 3
Jackie Duaime, Recreation Leader 3
John Glenn, Carpentry Group Leader
Richard Dooley, Carpentry Group Leader
Joseph Greenwood, HVAC Mechanic Group Leader

Interdepartmental Transfer Promotion
Christopher Gay, Electrician 2
Dortay Spanier, Equipment Operator 2
Ricardo Nieves, HVAC Mechanic 2
Kevin Regan, Recreation Leader 1

Separation
Garry Roache, Grounds and Facilities Maintenance Worker (Retirement)
William Sheridan, Carpentry group Leader (Resignation)
Abigail Richardson, Assistant Recreation Leader (Resignation)
Briget Cole, Assistant Recreation Leader (Resignation)

Literacy for Leaders

Penrose Playground and A.T.T.R.A.C.T Philly have partnered to bring the “Literacy for Leaders” reading program to North Philadelphia.

Literacy for Leaders is a reading program for children in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. The program’s objective is to have each student reading at a faster pace and higher grade level while simultaneously increasing their reading comprehension. Literacy for Leaders is designed to engage children in the early grades when students are most likely to develop sound study habits.

To check out the program, visit Penrose Playground (1101 W. Susquehanna Ave.) on Tuesdays from 4-6pm.

What’s New at Morris Estate Cultural Center

Learn about what’s happening at Morris Estate Cultural Center, including a basketball team, an upcoming performing arts show, and expanded programming for teens.

Holme Playground RSI Excels in Basketball

Congratulations to Nicole Dombrowski, a Recreation Specialty Instructor for Thomas Holme Playground’s summer camp, for earning one of the weekly basketball awards from the Colonial States Athletic Conference! Dombrowski, a junior at Gwynedd Mercy University, posted a pair of double-doubles the week of February 6.

Continue reading about Nicole Dombrowski’s success on the court

Learn to Compete Event at Scanlon

On January 15, Scanlon had its second annual Learn to Compete figure skating event. There were over 40 participants, ranging in age from 3 to 45. Some of the events included musical programs, jump and spin challenges, as well as other skills. Awards were given to the winners for first, second and third place in all categories. The skills ranged from just learning to skate to the more difficult double jumps. Skaters will use their experience to compete at other rinks in the future. Scanlon would like to thank Michelle Shaw for all her hard work organizing and setting up this event.

Thursday Night Lights at Feltonville Rec

The lights were bright and the popcorn in the Snack Shop was popping as another exciting season of District 3 basketball kicked off the night of February 2 at Feltonville Recreation Center. The stage was packed with spectators as some of the most talented young players in the area took the court and provided some stellar finishes.

Continue reading about District 3’s basketball kick off

Video: Bridesburg Rec Center’s After School Report

Find out what happened in January at Bridesburg Recreation Center’s After School program.

Boots on the Ground

I played baritone and bass saxophone in the Crean Stringband in the early ‘90s. Crean was the first band to allow women to march in the parade, long before my time. Some bands have yet to adopt this practice. After taking a break to go away to college, I returned to the band who had by then changed its name to the Joseph F. Burke Stringband. I continued to play the bass saxophone and performed at City Hall in a total of 11 parades. The last few years, I performed as a member of the Duffy Stringband located in Fishtown.

Continue reading about Beth’s experiences with the Mummers Parade, both as a performer and as a PPR staff member