May, 2016

LOVE Your Park Week

May 7-14

Join Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Fairmount Park Conservancy for a week of cleaning, greening, and celebrating Philly parks! Over 100 neighborhood Park Friends Groups will participate in the citywide Kick-Off Service Day on May 7 and host dozens of fun and exciting events and activities throughout the week.

Visit http://loveyourpark.org/ to volunteer or find an event near you.

Serve on the Commission on Parks and Recreation

The Mayor appoints nine Commission on Parks and Recreation members from a list of nominees submitted by City Council. The current appointees’ terms will expire in late 2016; therefore, City Council is in search of new nominees. Applications are due by May 6, 2016.

Learn more and apply to serve on the Parks and Recreation Commission

Philadelphia International Unity Cup

Philadelphia is hosting its own international soccer tournament, beginning in September and culminating in a championship match at Citizens Bank Park in early November. 32 teams of Philadelphians representing 32 countries from around the world, including a national team, will compete in pool play games across the city, followed by a knockout series to determine the top two teams for the championship.

For more information, visit www.phila.gov/unitycup.

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!

Follow Philly Trails Week!

We are in the midst of Trails Week, a largely digital campaign celebrating PPR’s vast trail system. On April 16, we kicked off the week with a free guided bike ride from Manayunk to Conshohocken along the Schuylkill Trail, led by PPR’s Rob Armstrong. Since then, we’ve been highlighting trail activities, showcasing the staff and partners behind the trail network’s creation, and sharing plans for future trail developments in order to increase awareness. Follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and use the hashtag #PhillyTrailsWeek to join the fun!

For a full collection of Trails Week content, visit our Tumblr account.

Vote for Your Favorite Philadelphia Rec Center Project!

The National Recreation and Park Association is collaborating with The Walt Disney Company, including Disney Citizenship, Disney|ABC Television Group and ESPN, to revitalize parks across the U.S. including a playground or recreation center here in Philadelphia through Parks Build Community! One of three local play spaces (Ferko Playground, Northern Liberties Rec Center, or Tarken Ice Rink) will receive a $20,000 grant, and you get to choose which one!

Learn more about Parks Build Community and vote for a Philadelphia project

Greenway 5K Run/Walk

Sunday, May 15, 9 a.m.




Pulaski Park (3001 East Allegheny Avenue)




All proceeds from this event will benefit Delaware River City Corporation (DRCC) -- a nonprofit working with the City of Philadelphia to build a recreational trail in the city’s Northeast area as part of the East Coast Greenway which will extend from Maine and Florida. DRCC's mission is to reconnect people, businesses, places and neighborhoods of Philadelphia and the surrounding region to the Delaware River.




Register for the Greenway 5K Run/Walk




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A2O Spring Community Days

Please join us for a series of free, public art events offered through our Arts & Artists Outdoors (A2O) program, presented in partnership with the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program!

• Wednesday, April 20, 4-7pm at Chew Playground (1800 Washington Ave.)
• Saturday, April 23, 11:30am-2:30pm at Mander Playground (2140 N. 33rd St.)
• Saturday, April 23, 12-3pm at Dorsey Playground (6501 Hegerman St.)
• Saturday, May 7, 12-3pm at Dorsey Playground (6501 Hegerman St.)
• Saturday, May 14, 3-6pm at Francisville Playground (1737-39 Francis St.)
• Thursday, May 12, 3:30-6pm at Wright Recreation Center (3320-50 Haverford Ave.)

Learn more about what’s planned for each A2O Community Day

Manayunk Bridge Trail Lighting

On March 24, the City of Philadelphia announced the receipt of federal funding for five community-based transportation projects through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), which targets pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements. Securing $2.67M of federal Transportation Alternative Program funds, matched by over $500,000 of local funds, was the result of a coordinated effort between the City’s Department of Streets, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Office of Transportation & Infrastructure Systems, as well as the Philadelphia City Planning Commission

The project under the supervision of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation will add lighting to the recently opened Manayunk Bridge Trail, which connects the Schuylkill River Trail, Manayunk Canal Towpath, and Main Street in Manayunk to the Cynwyd Heritage Trail in Montgomery County. Upon completion, the Manayunk Bridge Trail hours will be extended, allowing the Bridge Trail to serve as a critical commuter connection for pedestrians and cyclists who travel between Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties.

Learn more about other local projects funded through the Transportation Alternatives Program

Coded by Kids/Philly Tech Week Events

To celebrate Philly Tech Week, Coded by Kids is taking over three PPR recreation centers to hold interactive sessions for Philadelphia residents and their families. The sessions will dedicate an hour each to “Coding 101” and “Intro to the Philly Tech Community.” The selected dates and locations are:

• Saturday, April 30, 1 p.m.: Cecil B. Moore Recreation Center (2551 N. 22nd St.)
• Monday, May 2, 5 p.m.: Dorothy Emanuel Recreation Center (8500 Pickering Ave.)
• Wednesday, May 4, 5 p.m.: Francis J. Myers Recreation Center (5800 Chester Ave.)

Learn more and register for these Coded by Kids events

Plant Survey and Monitoring Techniques Walks

Please join PPR’s Citizens Participating in Research and Restoration program for a series of walks through Haddington Woods with Dr. David A. Hewitt.

• Sunday, May 1
• Tuesday May 3
• Sunday May 15
• Monday May 16

All walks take place from 1-3 p.m. Meet at the bocce court parking lot at Daggett and Vine Street. To register, or for more information about this public event, email joan.blaustein@phila.gov or call 215-683-0215.

Citizens Participating in Research and Restoration is a program designed to engage local citizens in all phases of the urban forest restoration process, including planning, implementation, monitoring and maintenance.

Register for the Philadelphia Games

June 4-10 & July 16

Participate in the city’s largest annual athletic competition for seniors!  Open to all Philadelphia, Southeastern PA & Southern NJ residents ages 50+, the Philadelphia Games includes activities ranging from swimming, running and dance, to chess, shuffleboard and Scrabble.

Learn more and register at www.philadelphiagames.org

Job Opportunities at The Oval

The Oval, Philadelphia’s “Park on the Parkway,” is hiring part-time Maintenance Attendants and Public Event Coordinators for its Summer 2016 season.

Learn more and apply for these job opportunities at The Oval

Volunteer Opportunity: Cleanup Days at Philly Watersheds

Philadelphia-based coffeehouse and urban-outdoor clothier United by Blue shows its commitment to waterway conservation by hosting cleanup days at watersheds across the region. For every item sold, United by Blue removes a pound of trash from oceans and waterways. Since 2010, the organization has hosted 51 cleanups in Philadelphia, removing over 53,073 pounds of trash from 7 watersheds.

Learn more and check out a list of upcoming United by Blue cleanup days

PPR Celebrates National Poetry Month

Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? To celebrate, we bring you a collection of poems written by PPR staff and program participants.

• “The Epitome of Artistry” by Barry Farber, Venice Island Performing Arts Recreation Center
• “Two Sisters” by Chris Windle, Recreation Leader at Starr Garden Playground
• “Brother” by Alberta Gibson, Facility Supervisor at John Anderson Cultural Center
• Four untitled poems from Northern Liberties Recreation Center

Read the collection of poems

Volunteer Opportunity: Bingo for the Blind

Friday, May 20, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Carousel House (4200 Avenue of the Republic)

Volunteers will assist visually disabled adults as they play Bingo on braille cards. Volunteers should arrive at 6 p.m. for a brief orientation and can expect to be finished by 9:30 p.m. Volunteers who pre-register by Tuesday, May 17 can arrive at 5:30 p.m. for free pizza. Both individuals and groups of volunteers are welcome!

If you are interested in volunteering, contact Bryant at blindbingo@gmail.com.

Into the Parks Program Lets Kids Explore Nature

Into the Parks is an initiative that brings kids from various Philadelphia Parks & Recreation rec centers to explore Philadelphia’s natural areas. Currently in its second year, the program is a collaboration between the environmental education staff of the Wissahickon and Pennypack Environmental Centers, several recreation leaders, and staff from the US Forest Service. It is administered by PPR Environmental Education Specialist Trish Fries. The program runs from November through May and consists of monthly Saturday trips that encourage being outdoors throughout the year, even in the snow of winter.

Continue reading about the Into the Parks program

Star Players Offers a Creative Outlet for Those Who Enjoy Performing Arts

Star Players is an acting troupe that is based in Northwest Philadelphia. It was created by Bill Arthur, Recreation Leader II at Morris Estate Cultural Center in West Oak Lane, who has an extensive background in theater and was an actor in community productions before beginning his career with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR).

Learn more about the Star Players, including upcoming performances and auditions

Watch a video about Through the Years, the Star Players’ next performance

Picnic Season Opening Day

Opening Day for the 2016 Picnic Season was another success. On Monday, March 14, Laina Foust and Peggy Moore assisted 135 families and processed well over 500 customers for the entire week. The line started forming at the CASE Building on Sunday, March 13 at 12 p.m., a full 23 hours before we opened to accept applications on Monday!

Find Laura Sims Skate House Online

 Laura Sims Skate House in Cobbs Creek has a new website! Launched in March, the site provides details on activities, a calendar of events, facility history, and staff and advisory council lists. Individuals can also like Laura Sims Skate House on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LauraSimsSkate.

10 Parks That Changed America

Missed the April 12 airing of “10 Parks That Changed America” on PBS? Check out WTTW’s interactive Fairmount Park feature and watch the Philadelphia segment online.

Improvements at Markward Playground

On April 14, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell, State Representative Brian Sims and Councilman Kenyatta Johnson announced approximately $1million in investments at Markward Playground at Schuylkill River Park. The funding is derived from three separate sources-- Parks & Recreation was awarded $388,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) as part of the Recreation and Conservation fund; Councilman Kenyatta Johnson matched the DCNR award with a $300,000 investment; and Parks & Recreation will invest an additional $300,000 into the rehabilitation.

The Markward rehabilitation and development project will include demolition and site improvements to the heavily used Center City location. In order to continue to meet the needs of the community and to bring the park into compliance with current standards, including ADA, safety and the Universal Construction Code, the park is being upgraded. The project will also improve stormwater management features by constructing a rain garden, and existing landscaping will be upgraded.

Vare Basketball Wins 3rd City Championship in a Row

For the third year in a row, the Vare Recreation Center 16 and under basketball team made it to the PPR City-wide Championships. On March 24, the team faced Barry/Guerin Recreation Center in the championship game at Mayfair Recreation Center. After a hard-fought battle, with the score being within points of each other the entire game, Vare was victorious. The final score was 83-59. 

Continue reading about Vare’s championship

Operations Spotlight: Rob Gilliam

Robert “Rob” Gilliam is the Park Grounds Maintenance Supervisor in District 8, which covers parkland in West and Southwest Philadelphia. He began his career with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) in 1997 as a Seasonal Maintenance Attendant (SMA) and became a permanent employee in 1999.

In his role, Rob manages the District 8 Grounds Crew. His duties include paperwork, time sheets, and other managerial responsibilities. Rob also spends a good amount of time in the field making sure that all work is being done correctly and efficiently. He delegates tasks and provides instruction to staff when needed.

Continue reading about Rob Gilliam

St. Joseph’s Prep Delivers 1,000 Pounds of Food to Mander Playground

Mander Playground is one of two sites where the East Park Revitalization Alliance gives out food to the residents of Strawberry Mansion. For the past two years, St. Joseph’s Prep has donated food to our food pantry. This past month was their biggest delivery yet– 1,000 pounds of food! We would like to thank the students at St. Joseph’s Prep for their donation.

Volunteers Participate in Clean Up to Prepare for Broad Street Run

On April 16, staff from Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR), with help from approximately 250 volunteers from several organizations, teamed up to participate in the Philly Spring Clean Up in preparation for the Blue Cross Broad Street Run, which will take place on Sunday, May 1.

Volunteers included six staff members from PPR’s Program division: Chrissy Rad, Dennis Gibson, Jim Marino, Cornelius Edwards, Debbie Darroyo, and Steve Schmidt. The group worked on four areas along Broad Street that spanned through different areas of the city: from Olney Ave. to Lindley Ave.; Clearfield Street to Lehigh Ave.; Oxford Ave. to Spring Garden Street; and Christian Street to Porter Street.

Continue reading about the Broad Street Run cleanup

Spring Planting at Roosevelt Playground

On April 15, the Roosevelt After School Program began its spring planting season. Under Brother Dave's guidance, the kids planted orca, seedum, basil, and sunflower seeds. Last year, we had a great harvest and hope to repeat last year's success.

Many thanks to Brother Dave and the entire Garden Education Program in addition to our After School staff. Together, they make our urban gardens a great learning experience that includes hands-on activities.

2016 Hot Chocolate Run

Over 10,000 participants endured the rain to compete in the Hot Chocolate Run 15k/5k Run on April 2 along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and MLK Drive.  At the finish line they were able to enjoy delicious fondue and hot chocolate.  

Table Tennis in North Philly

East Poplar and 8th & Diamond playgrounds are working in collaboration to teach the game of table tennis to males and females, ages 12 to 19, and form teams. Once participants know the fundamentals of table tennis, they will compete.

Photo: Jumping Jacks at Gathers Rec Center

Youth ten and under participating in Hank Gathers Recreation Center’s basketball workouts in March.

Volunteer Project in Tacony Creek Park

On a sunny weekend in March, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation teamed up with the Student Conservation Association to tackle a multi-day volunteer project in Tacony Creek Park. Luke Rhodes of the Fairmount Park Conservancy and Robin Irizzary of the TTF Watershed Partnership worked to coordinate the project, which introduced more youth to Tacony Creek Park and addressed a site with serious soil erosion around its trails.

Continue reading about this Tacony Creek Park volunteer project