April, 2016

Dear Friends:

Earlier this month, Mayor Jim Kenney presented his Fiscal Year 2017 Budget priorities to City Council. The budget plan aims to tackle poverty, improve education, and invest in all Philadelphia neighborhoods through five focus areas: quality pre-kindergarten, rebuilding community infrastructure, community schools, a Philadelphia energy campaign, and pension responsibility. Although all of these priorities are important to us as Philadelphia residents, the commitment to rebuilding community infrastructure is especially exciting for Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. If passed, Mayor Kenney’s budget would invest up to $600 million in transformative improvements for Philadelphia’s parks, libraries and recreation centers over the next six years.

In his remarks, the mayor emphasized PPR’s role in delivering afterschool care for children and providing community hubs in each neighborhood. Furthermore, he recognized the impact that improved parks and recreation infrastructure would have on reducing crime and creating jobs for the future. The Fiscal Year 2017 Budget was a strong endorsement of the work we do every day, and I want to thank each of you for your commitment to the mission of the department and the efforts you make to achieve it each day.

The budget proposal is ambitious, and potential obstacles lie ahead. In order to raise revenue for all of his focus areas, Mayor Kenney has recommended a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages for the city. A large coalition of partners including parks and recreation advocates, called Philadelphians for a Fair Future, is standing in support of the proposed tax. For more information on this effort, please visit the Philadelphia Parks Alliance website. 

In the meantime, we at the department will remain focused on preparing for the busy summer months, hiring seasonal staff, planning events and programs, readying our fields for heavy use, and activating our neighborhood parks and playgrounds.

I have enjoyed meeting so many of you on visits to PPR facilities over the past six weeks and hope to meet more and more of you as the weather improves and our recreation centers and parks begin bustling with activity.

Kathryn Ott Lovell

Spring Events You Won’t Want to Miss

If you’re looking for something to do now that winter has come to an end, we’ve rounded up a list of fun outdoor events for the whole family. From educational programming to competitive sports events, with a few spring celebrations sprinkled in between, there are plenty ways to embrace the warm weather all around the city.

View our list of spring events.

TreePhilly Yard Tree Giveaways and #PhillyTreeTrek

Registration is now open for the Spring 2016 season of TreePhilly's Yard Tree Giveaways! Register and learn more.

This year, one of the yard trees, a Sweetbay Magnolia named Bud, will be documenting his trip from the nursery to his forever home in the yard of one lucky Philadelphian! Along the way, he will be visiting lots of great Philly places and posting about his trip on social media. You can follow Bud's #PhillyTreeTrek and learn how you can enter the contest to win Bud for your own yard at http://treephilly.org/get-involved/phillytreetrek/. The lucky winner will have Connor Barwin from the Eagles plant Bud in their yard for them!

Summer Camp Registration

Registration is open for many PPR day camps and specialty camps, including:

• Summer Art Camp
• Performing Arts Camp
• Wissahickon Summer Camps
• Rowing Camp
• Be Outside Teen Program
• Pennypack Teen Adventures
• Skateboard Camps
• Senior Art Camp

Learn more and register by visiting our Camps webpage

10 Parks That Changed America

On April 12, “10 Parks That Changed America,” the second episode of the new three-part series 10 That Changed America, will premiere at 8:00 pm ET (check local listings) on PBS. “10 Parks That Changed America,” presented nationally by WTTW Chicago, highlights visionaries who transformed open canvases of land into serene spaces that offer city-dwellers a respite from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Among the ten parks is Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. PPR's Preservation & Capital Projects Manager, Robert Armstrong, appears in the episode.

Attend the March 24 premiere for 10 That Changed America

Learn more about 10 That Changed America

Now Hiring: Lifeguards

PPR is looking for lifeguards for our summer pool season! Starting salary is $12.33 an hour.

Candidates 15 years or older must attend a lifeguard screening at one of our three indoor training facilities:

• Sayre Morris Swimming Pool: Monday and Friday between 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
• Pickett Swimming Pool: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday between 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
• Lincoln Pool: Tuesday and Thursday between 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m

After the screening is passed, candidates must complete 21.5 hours of lifeguard training.

To learn more, visit www.phila.gov/lifeguards. Or, download one of our flyers and spread the word!

Philadelphia to Host International Parks Conference in 2021

The City of Philadelphia has been selected by City Parks Alliance to host the organization’s Greater & Greener international urban parks conference in 2021.

The conference, which is expected to attract roughly 1,500 people from 200 cities and 20 countries, brings together professionals and political leaders from around the world to explore the power of public parks to transform urban landscapes. The Greater & Greener conference is presented every other year by City Parks Alliance.

Continue reading about Philadelphia’s selection to host the 2021 Greater & Greener conference

Secret Cinema: Parks and Rec Rarities

Friday, March 25 at 8:00 p.m.

Admission: $8.00

Horticulture Center (North Horticultural Drive & Montgomery Avenue)

The Secret Cinema and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation present “Parks and Rec Rarities,” a screening of little-seen City-made films. The program will consist of shorts from the 1960s, '70s and '80s, documenting leisurely times gone by in Philadelphia's abundant parks and recreation facilities.

Learn more at http://www.thesecretcinema.com/

Philly Cup Skateboard Series

• April 16: Pop’s Playground (2554 Trenton Avenue)
• June 11: Grays Ferry Crescent (3600 Grays Ferry Avenue)
• July 9: Rizzo Rink (1101 S. Front Street)
• September 10: Paine’s Park (24th & Benjamin Franklin Parkway)

Ages 7-10. Registration is taken the day of competition on site from 11-11:45am. Registration fee: $5 per competitor. Competitions begin at noon. Lunch is provided.

Job Opportunity: Field Data Collection Technician

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is seeking a Field Data Collection Technician for the duration of six months to collect information throughout the PPR system. The Field Data Collection Technician will work closely with GIS staff from Philadelphia Parks & Recreation to inspect and compile data on assets in designated areas. The position is 100% outdoors and requires hiking and/or driving between sites and facilities with all pertinent equipment including (but not limited to): iPad, GPS receiver, and digital camera.

View the full Field Data Collection Technician job description (PDF)

9th Annual Philly Spring Cleanup

Saturday, April 9, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Presented by the Streets Department, the Philly Spring Cleanup is a great way for you, your family, your friends and your neighbors to get involved and do your part to keep our city looking its best. Dedication like yours, along with the can-do attitude of thousands of volunteers all over the city, is exactly what we need to meet our goals.

Learn how to become involved with Philly Spring Cleanup

Grow Up Green Returns for Spring Season

The Grow Up Green program connects young children to the environment and nature by encouraging outdoor play at various parks and Tot Recreation centers throughout the city. This traveling program is designed to educate children between 3 and 5 years of age about the importance of a natural world and the environment that surrounds them. Grow Up Green coordinator Mary-Grace Gorman says the objective of the program is to help kids understand nature instead of being afraid of it. Once kids connect with the nature in their own backyard, then they will grow to be more inclined to venture out to other places to appreciate nature everywhere.

View the Spring 2016 Grow Up Green schedule

Adult Tennis: Sets in the City

Are you an adult looking to play fun, casual tennis, but don’t know where to start? This spring, the South Philadelphia Tennis Association (SPTA) is holding “Sets in the City” events at various PPR playgrounds. All skill levels are welcome, and you don’t need a partner or a club membership.

SPTA is also hosting free family play days from April through June.

Learn more about Sets in the City

Spring at Ryerss Museum & Library

Burholme Park’s Ryerss Museum & Library is bustling with activity this spring! Check out the events below, and visit http://www.ryerssmuseum.org/ for more information.

• Friday, April 1, 1 p.m. Mommy and Me: Nature, Signs of Spring (children 2-5 years old with caregiver)                                                
• Saturday, April 2, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Used Book Sale
• Saturday, April 9, 1-2:30 p.m. Crafty Kids
• Saturday, April 9, 3 p.m. Accidents of Being (premier performance of a verse play)
• Sunday, April 17, 1-2:30 p.m. Abe & Mary (A lecture by Hugh Boyle on the relationship of Abe & Mary Lincoln)

Ergathon Philly

April 23-24, 11 a.m.-11 a.m.

Lloyd Hall (1 Boathouse Row)

Join us at this third annual benefit event as we attempt to keep five rowing machines (Ergs) spinning constantly for 24 hours! This fundraiser supports many different city rowing programs, including PPR's Rowing Camp at Lloyd Hall.

Learn more about Ergathon Philly

Rooms in Bloom at Fairmount Park Historic Houses

April 16 & 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Celebrate the arrival of spring at our historic houses! Fanciful floral arrangements, created by Greater Philadelphia-area garden clubs, will grace the exquisite rooms of Cedar Grove, Lemon Hill, Ormiston, Laurel Hill, Woodford, and Historic Strawberry Mansion, all conveniently located in Fairmount Park.

For more information, please visit http://parkcharms.com/rooms-in-bloom/

PPR Celebrates Trails Week

In April, PPR will spend a week celebrating its many miles of trails. Trails Week, kicking off with a free bike ride on April 16, is a largely digital campaign to increase awareness of the existing trail network, showcase the staff and partners behind its creation, and share plans for future trail developments. Follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and use the hashtag #PhillyTrailsWeek to join the fun!

4th Annual Healthy Trails 5K in Tacony Creek Park

Sunday, April 17, 8-10 a.m.

Friends Hospital (4641 Roosevelt Blvd.)

Registration Opens: Monday, April 4 at 12 p.m. on www.RunTheDay.com

Join us in Tacony Creek Park to support TTF Watershed Partnership. The race will start and finish on the Friends Hospital Campus, on a fully paved, stroller and pet-friendly trail. Bring the whole family! 50 Broad Street Run Bibs will be available during registration on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contact: Robin Irizarry at robin@ttfwatershed.org or (215) 744-1853.

Philadelphia Games Registration

Registration is open for the 2016 Philadelphia Games for Philadelphia residents ages 50 and over. This year’s games will take place June 4-10 and July 16. Activities include track & field, bowling, swimming, golf, basketball, horseshoes and more.

PPR Celebrates Women’s History Month

In honor of Women’s History Month, we compiled a short list of important women that achieved great feats in their Philadelphia neighborhoods and became namesakes of parks and playgrounds as a result, and remembered two women who led Philadelphia’s Bureau of Recreation throughout the 1920s.

Participants Shine at City-wide Tumbling Meet

On February 20, the PPR City-wide Tumbling Meet took place at Gustine Recreation Center in East Falls. 14 tumbling programs representing all areas of the city were in attendance. There was also a strong presence from Philadelphia Parks & Recreation staff, including Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell. 

The City-wide Meet was divided into two portions: Intermediate, advanced and open levels competed in the morning, while beginners followed in the afternoon.

Continue reading about the City-wide Tumbling Meet

The Oval and TreePhilly Win Awards

On March 15, The Oval and TreePhilly accepted awards on behalf of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation at the Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society’s 69th Annual State Conference. Both were recognized for “Excellence in Recreation and Parks.”

Situated on 8 acres of land on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, The Oval was designed by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, in partnership with The Fairmount Park Conservancy, to make Eakins Oval more accessible to the public. The Oval provides a wide array of community programming, activities and amenities suitable for all ages.

The TreePhilly Program connects Philadelphia residents to the resources they need to plant and care for trees in the city. The goal of TreePhilly is to increase tree canopy cover to 30% in each neighborhood, so all residents can benefit from the increased shade, cleaner air and water, and the beauty that trees provide. 

Taekwon-do at Sturgis

In February, 4 students from Sturgis Playground went to San Francisco, California for the 2016 U.S. National Qualifiers to earn a spot on Team USA. If you make the team, you will represent the U.S. in the ITF World Championships in London, England in July.

Continue reading about the Sturgis martial artists.

Super Bowl Champion Returns to His Roots at Cherashore Playground

On February 23, Cherashore Playground proudly welcomed back Super Bowl champion Zaire “Bam” Anderson to retire his youth football jersey.

Zaire played football at Cherashore for the City Youth Association Gators from ages 12 to 14. He then went on to play at Frankford High School, followed by Riverside City College in California, and the University of Nebraska, where he earned a degree in youth and family sciences in 2014. His college career ultimately led him to sign as an inside linebacker with the Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos on May 5, 2015. In his rookie year, he played on the team’s practice squad.

Continue reading about Zaire Anderson’s visit to Cherashore Playground

UFEM Update

The Urban Forestry and Ecosystem Management team’s efforts have been featured in a number of outlets in the past month, highlighting the interest in our work.

• The Forestry Source is published by the Society of American Foresters and offers the latest information on national forestry trends. The March edition focused on urban forest issues and includes a profile of Philadelphia’s urban forests through an interview with Curtis Helm and Joan Blaustein. Read the article.
• Arborist Ben Stanko of the Urban Forestry team was a guest on Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane on WHYY discussing how to pick the perfect tree for your yard. Listen to the episode.
• The Philadelphia Inquirer did a feature story on PPR’s forest restoration work in Cobbs Creek focusing on preparing our natural lands for the effects of climate change. Read the Inquirer story.

A Celebration at Gorgas Park

On February 19, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner (PPR) Kathryn Ott Lovell, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Regional Advisor Drew Gilchrist, and State Senator Vincent Hughes announced the award of a $188,000 grant from DCNR to Gorgas Park (6300 Ridge Avenue). City and local matching funds will make the total investment into the park $376,000. The funding will go towards improving the park’s stormwater management infrastructure and renovating and redesigning its baseball field. The Friends of Gorgas Park were instrumental in raising $130,000 of the matching funds needed for the grant. The Friends of Gorgas Park are a community-led, volunteer organization established to support and advocate for Gorgas Park in partnership with PPR. PPR added an additional $58,000 towards the match goal.

Read PPR Stewardship Coordinator David Bower’s reflections on the contributions of the Friends of Gorgas Park

Rest in Peace, Mr. Bill Gambrel (1936-2016)

The Frankford Community has lost a true legend. On Friday, March 4, 2016, Mr. Bill Gambrel passed away at the age of 79.

“Mr. Bill” co-founded the Frankford Chargers in 1967. What started as playing football on a dirt and rock field with a few local kids has turned into a staple of the community, one that has served thousands of kids.

Continue reading about Mr. Bill Gambrel

PPR Operations Spotlight: Ball Field Preparation

Transition from winter to spring brings a lot of changes to our parks, playgrounds and recreation centers. Leaves are turning green, the sun is shining bright, and people are spending more time outside. For our Operations staff, this change in seasons means it’s time to begin preparing the PPR’s ball fields for daily use. We recently spoke with Lori Hayes, Operations Manager in PPR District 8 (West Philly), to gain insight into what goes on during the ball field preparation process.

Continue reading about ball field preparation

Lee Cultural Center Provides a Well-rounded Experience for West Philly Kids

Looking for something to do? West Philadelphia’s Lee Cultural Center offers a variety of sports and cultural programming, largely thanks to Recreation Leader Aaron “Shaggy” Hoffer. When it comes to his work, Shaggy’s goal is to build community through play and help people explore what they love. He aims for Lee Cultural Center to offer a safe space for people of all ages to experience the value of play, no matter if it’s through sports, the arts or another activity. “Play brings people together to experience learning,” said Shaggy. “This is especially critical in urban environments.”

Continue reading about Lee Cultural Center

Stewardship Unit Hosts Parks Network Conference at Holy Family University

Northeast Philadelphia was the location of this year’s Park Friends Network Spring Conference. Over 70 park group members attended the conference held on the campus of Holy Family University at Frankford and Grant Avenues.

Continue reading about the Parks Network Conference

A Star in the East

The newest jewel in the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation crown is the refurbished former Tolentine Center at 1025 Mifflin St. in District 7. Rechristened the East Passyunk Community Recreation Center (EPCRC), the facility is under the supervision of Recreation Leader John Medica. John has preserved the best of the former Tolentine's programs-- After School and community craft and flea market fairs-- and added more special community events. EPCRC now hosts youth basketball leagues and various programs in the spacious gymnasium and well equipped multi-purpose rooms. Look for more innovative programs for diverse populations in the near future.

Sleepless Fields Art Installation at McMichael Park

The Friends of McMichael Park seem to like the glowing effect. For Valentine’s Day, they organized a Love Light fundraiser where patrons could make a donation and get a red bulb lit up on a tree in honor/memory of those they love. From March 5-7, the Friends hosted Philadelphia artist Elizabeth Hamilton and her art installation Sleepless Field for a few days to once again, glow the park.

Continue reading about Sleepless Field

PPR Recognizes Irish Heritage with Irish Dance Classes

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is proud to offer an array of unique activities that reflect a variety of backgrounds and interests. One of these activities is Irish Dancing.
Riley Irish Dance has practiced at Lackman Playground in Northeast Philadelphia for the past year. The organization, which was started in 2010, is run by instructor Justina Leavesley, TCRG, and offers solo and traditional Ceili (group) dance classes for boys and girls ages four and up. The students learn both hard and soft shoe dances, and the program offers instruction from the novice all the way up to championship-level dancing. Lessons are year-round.

Continue reading about Irish Dance Classes at PPR

New Outreach Program Teaches About Public Land Access and Soil Safety

Jasmine Hamilton has been the Garden Outreach Coordinator for Farm Philly since January of this year. Her role mainly involves planning and facilitating free workshops throughout Philadelphia on the topics of public land access and soil safety.

Continue reading about PPR’s garden outreach program

Bridesburg Tot Recreation Star Wars Day

The Bridesburg Recreation Center's Tot Rec Program recently celebrated Star Wars Day. Using the force, we have gathered footage of the young Jedis in training.

Watch Bridesburg Rec’s Star Wars Day video

Vine Street Bullies

PPR Ecosystem Management Staff is gearing up to hire three interns who will be working to remove climbing vines throughout the major watershed parks this summer. Philadelphia parks have been subject to disturbance since their establishment in the mid to late 1800′s. This has resulted in the introduction of numerous species of invasive plants, including many woody vines. Several of these vines, in particular Asiatic bittersweet, porcelainberry, English ivy and wisteria have become very damaging to park forests. These vines climb into tree canopies, causing shading and additional weight. The shading reduces photosynthesis which stresses and weakens the tree, and the added weight and surface area of the vines can result in catastrophic failure, especially during wind storms or snow and ice events. These vines also overwhelm and kill tree seedlings and saplings that would otherwise become the future forest.

Continue reading about Ecosystem Management's vine removal interns

Feltonville Recreation Center Receives Makeover through the Mural Arts Guild Program

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Mural Arts Program’s Restorative Justice Guild program (The Guild) have begun a project to restore the appearance of Feltonville Recreation Center. The project, which is anticipated to last about three months, will include restoration and painting of frequently used spaces in the rec center, including the gym, multipurpose room, and dance studio. The project will also include painting all of the walls and hallways in the facility and building a storage area for children to place their belongings while they are at the center. One unique aspect of this endeavor is that the murals being painted will reflect the activities that happen in the room in which they are displayed.

Continue reading about the makeover at Feltonville Recreation Center

Photo: Kite Crafts at Mitchell Playground

On March 1, Majae and Zakia from the Outdoor Experiences Youth Workforce Development team visited Mitchell Playground to give a lesson about Air, accompanied by a kite-making activity.

Capitolo Youth Flag Football Clinic

The inaugural Capitolo Playground Youth Flag Football Clinic concluded on February 29 with a pizza party and medal ceremony. Players ages 4-8 learned fundamental football skills while having fun over the course of the 8-week clinic. Games like "capture the flag" and "football dodge-ball" were instrumental in keeping the kids active during the cold winter months. Congrats to our players on a great season!

District 1 Swim Meet

Bragging rights and awards were on the line when the City's swim team, The Tritons, took on the Northeast YMCA swim team at Lincoln Pool on February 20! Both teams made their respected programs proud. Winners from The Tritons included Mina Refela, Marosol Rodriguez and Harrison Findley from the 11 and above division. In the 6-10 age division, winners included Sarah Yellin and Ellen Bochicichio. All swimmers had a great time and look forward to the next showdown with the Northeast YMCA.

February Plantings with the Vogt Cluster Bloom in June

On a cloudy February 24th afternoon, the Vogt Cluster had a spring gardening lesson on planting Marigold and Zina flowers with Recreation Leader John Brady.

Dorsey, Disston, Roosevelt, and Vogt Recreation Center’s After School Programs participated in learning about spring flower plantings. The children in the After School Programs had a half day for school report cards, and all the children met at the Vogt Recreation Center for a gardening lesson.

The children learned about proper soil conditions, moisture content, and temperature limits for seed germination.

Continue reading about the flower planting event at Vogt

Mander to the River Community Meeting

The Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation are working together to enhance the connection along Diamond Drive from Mander Recreation Center to Randolph Creek. On March 2, the two agencies partnered with the Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corporation to host a community input meeting at Mander Playground. During the meeting, Strawberry Mansion neighborhood residents and stakeholders expressed their vision for the “Mander to The River” project through a formalized visioning exercise.

Recent Wheelchair Basketball Tournaments

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation offers a plethora of unique sports for people to try. One of those sports is wheelchair basketball. This sport allows kids and adults with various disabilities to play basketball on an organized team. Each year PPR plays host to two wheelchair basketball tournaments, one for kids and one for adults. This year they took place during the weekends of February 26 and March 4.

Continue reading about this winter's wheelchair basketball tournaments

Video: Bridesburg After School Report

Find out what happened at Bridesburg Recreation Center’s After School program this February.

View the slideshow report video

What’s in a Name? The Charles T. Mitchell, Jr. Playground

Many Philadelphia Parks & Recreation sites have gone through designation changes over the years, but the story of the names associated with the park that stretches between 10th and 11th, along Lombard Street, is particularly compelling. 

Continue reading about Charles T. Mitchell, Jr. Playground

Top Social Media Report

This month, we learned about Mayor Jim Kenney’s intentions of spending up to $600 million on improving city parks, recreation centers, and libraries. Our social media audience seemed to be very intrigued by this budget address and excited about these future plans! Additionally, our audience reacted to our stories about Women’s History Month, upcoming handball tournaments and camps in North Philly, FarmPhilly’s soil safety and land access workshops, and the announcement of the Pumptrack’s opening day. Of course, we can’t forget Connor Barwin’s appearance at the TreePhilly Spring Yard Tree Giveaway press event. View our report to find out which posts attracted the most attention over the last month.

1st Annual Vogt Cluster Winter Games

On a cold, rainy day on February 23, the After School programs from the Vogt Cluster (Vogt, Dorsey, and Roosevelt) enjoyed a great afternoon of fun and games at Vogt Recreation Center.

Games included races through cones, volleyball, an obstacle course with hula hoops, golf putting, and the parachute game. Afterwards, the children ate together in Vogt's multi-purpose room.

Many thanks go to John Brady for hosting; Kristen, Nina, and Sam for planning the games; and the After School Staffs from all three facilities for helping to oversee and help the children with the games. We need to thank the children as well for their exemplary behavior throughout the afternoon. What could have been a long day with early dismissal and miserable weather turned into an afternoon of cluster activity and fun.

Ice Hockey Matchup: District 1 vs. District 7

It was Northeast Philly vs. South Philly in an all-star ice hockey matchup that pitted District 1 vs. District 7 on February 29 at Rizzo Rink. Rizzo took the early lead in the first period with a quick offensive explosion. Their offense continued in the second period with three more goals, but their defense let Tarken back in the game by giving up two goals. In the third period, the tables were turned and Tarken showcased their skills and grit, tying the game with three minutes left. The game went into overtime, with a defensive stalemate on both sides ending in a 5-5 tie. The next battle between these two all-star teams took place on March 14 with the 10-13 year olds taking to the ice at Tarken Rink.