August, 2013

Dear Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Colleagues:

At this time of year, I think we are all feeling a bit frayed by the hectic pace of activities and the seemingly never-ending needs related to our Summer schedule. It has been a challenging season due to weather extremes, the increasingly high demand for our services and, of course, the regrettable tragedy we experienced. But in the face of all these trials, the men and women of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation stood tall and I am proud of each and every one of you.

Camps have ended, events at The Oval have concluded and pools are in the process of closing. But, the positive impact of what we have accomplished this season is evident in the large numbers of program participants we served, the multitude of repairs we effected, the special events we have coordinated and the memories we have created. So before we dive headfirst into our school year programming, tree planting season and other Fall activities, I want to thank you all once again for your hard work and commitment to serving our citizens.

Team Vick Field Dedication

On August 19, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, the Fairmount Park Conservancy, Philadelphia Eagles, Ron Jaworski, Michael Vick and the Team Vick Foundation dedicated the Team Vick Field at Hunting Park, the capstone project of Phase One of the Hunting Park Revitalization Project.

The Team Vick Field was made possible thanks to: CBS EcoMedia, Inc., City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, JAWS Youth Playbook, Patricia Kind, LISC Philadelphia, Laura and Marc McKenna, North Philadelphia Aztecs, NRG Energy, Philadelphia Area Chevy Dealers, The Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Seravalli Inc., Sportsfield Specialties, and Team Vick Foundation.

The Hunting Park Revitalization Project, led by the Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, is a community-driven effort to make transformative capital and programmatic improvements to the 87 acres of Hunting Park. This dedication ceremony celebrated the transformation of this football field, serving as a place of pride for Hunting Park's 2004 Pop Warner Championship team, the North Philadelphia Aztecs!

Learn more about the Team Vick Field dedication

Save the Date: TreePhilly Celebration

Please save September 18 for TreePhilly’s 100,000th Tree Giveaway Celebration!

Learn more about TreePhilly

Philly Fall Fishing Festival

Saturday, September 7
(Rain date: September 21)
7-11 a.m.
Schuylkill Banks (below the Walnut Street Bridge)

Bring the kids and enjoy a fun morning along the river! Fishing rods will be available on a first-come basis. Food and prizes available.

Houston Meadow Hoping for Meadowlarks

Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry and Ecosystem Management team has been working to restore the Houston Meadow to its former beauty and ecological status for the past 4 years.

Continue reading this story

Photos: The Jam at Pop’s Playground

On July 13, 40 participants between the ages of 8 and 50+ competed for top honors in The Jam at Pop's Playground.

View more photos of The Jam at Pop’s Playground

Learn more about The Jam and upcoming events in this series.

August Food Truck Calendar

Some of the best cuisine in the city is available at City Hall, LOVE Park and The Oval. No matter your craving—meatballs, popsicles, knishes—we’ve got a food truck to satisfy your appetite.

Download the August 2013 food truck calendar for City Hall

Download the August 2013 food truck calendar for LOVE Park

Photos: Party for the Parks

On July 22, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Fairmount Park Conservancy hosted Party for the Parks Summer Celebration at The Oval to celebrate Friends group volunteers. More than 130 guests played games, ate delicious food and participated in DJ Patty-Pat’s now-famous trivia contest.

View pictures from Party for the Parks

Out-N-About Summer Camp at Wissahickon Environmental Center

Last week staff of the Wissahickon Environmental Center hosted their seventh year of OUT- N -ABOUT camp for teens/tweens ages 11-14. This camp goes beyond the Wissahickon Valley and into areas in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Activities this year included horseback riding lessons at Courtesy Stables, geocaching along the Schuylkill River from the Art Museum to the Wissahickon Creek, an all-day hike in the Wissahickon, and an overnight trip to Lums Pond State Park in Delaware. While on their overnight in Delaware, the adventurous campers climbed in the tree canopy at the Go Ape Tree Top Adventure Course, set up their own tents, cooked their own supper over a campfire and kayaked the next morning.

Previous years’ adventures have included: biking the Lehigh River trail, rock climbing, canoeing the Schuylkill River and exploring the Delaware Bay.

View pictures of this year’s Out-N-About Summer Camp

Congrats to the Houston Hurricanes!

The U17 baseball team from Houston Playground won the PPR Baseball League championship at Citizens Bank Park on July 22.

Read the Roxborough Review’s coverage for the full story.

Photos: Dell Music Center Highlights

Take a look at the first two (sold out) shows at the Dell Music Center this season:

• Chaka Kahn, July 11
• Fantasia, July 18

View the full Dell Music Center schedule for Summer 2013

Flowing and Growing in the Right Direction

PPR has been working closely with the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) on the development of Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) projects within PPR owned & operated properties such as recreation centers and city parks. Examples of GSI are tree trenches, bio swales, rain gardens, flow through planters and sub surface infiltration basins/pits. The GSI is part of PWD’s long term “Green City, Clean Waters” plan, developed to meet federal regulatory obligations while revitalizing the city. Because the recreation centers and city parks have seasonal programming, the PWD meets with each recreation center leader to understand all of the uses at each site before moving forward with the design process. PPR staff also inspects proposed GSI locations to ensure that impacts to onsite trees will be avoided. Once PWD initiates the design process, it will usually take 2-3 years before the GSI will be constructed at a site. PWD is committed to maintaining all of the GSI that are constructed on park properties.

McPherson Square Day Camp Hits the Green of The First Tee

Tiger Woods, watch out. On Tuesday, July 23 the campers of McPherson Square Day Camp were invited to learn the game of golf at the First Tee of Greater Philadelphia at Walnut Lane Golf Course.

Boarding a bus at F Street and Indiana Avenue, the 40 campers marveled at how the scenery changed as they drove west on Allegheny Avenue out to the City limits and thought they were out in the country.

First Tee is a youth development organization that provides youth with educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. Their six-member professional staff have decades of experience working with youth and are expert teachers of the game of golf.

McPherson day campers were greeted by the awesome staff at First Tee and provided with a day of golf lessons and games as well as building their self confidence, respect for themselves and others.

Day Campers enjoyed lunch and then played Baseball Golf on the greens at Walnut Lane Golf Course. It was the first trip that McPherson day campers had in their first year as a Parks & Rec day camp and campers had such a good time they hope to go back for a visit again and get a hole-in-one!

View more pictures of the McPherson Day Camp trip

Boxers’ Trail 5K & Strawberry Mansion Day

Mark your calendar for September 14 because Mander Recreation Center has something for everyone: a 5K run/walk along the scenic cliff paths where heavy weight boxing champ Joe Frazier trained, food, education, entertainment and more!

Register for the Boxers’ Trail Run/Walk.

The Strawberry Mansion Day celebration begins at 10 a.m. and runs through 7 p.m.

Photos: Summer 2013 Urban Agriculture Programming

View more pictures of urban agriculture education

Swim Meets & Lifeguard Competition

Pool season wrapped up with the Little Quaker swim meet on August 1, the Youth meet on August 7 and the Lifeguard Competition on August 8.

Photos: Fairmount Park Family Triathlon/Duathlon

One hundred participants, ages 8-70, competed in the 4th Annual Fairmount Park Family Triathlon/Duathlon on July 20.

View more pictures of the triathlon/duathlon

Learn more about TriYouthalon events

Greenland Nursery…Growing by Leaves and Grounds

PPR has been working hard on redeveloping the Greenland Nursery, which is located off of Ford Rd. (near the Recycling Center) in West Fairmount Park. In the recent past, PPR has cleared invasive non-native vegetation and installed deer fencing to enclose and protect the approximately 10 acre site. The greenhouse and head house have been refurbished with improved irrigation, lighting and heated beds. An in-ground “pot in pot” plant holding area has been installed that will allow PPR to grow and overwinter container plants. PPR has also installed a “live stake” cutting bed for stream restoration projects and a “Missouri gravel bed,” which provides a holding area for bare root trees. PPR ecosystem management staff focuses on growing primarily Philadelphia native plants. To do this, seed is collected at the appropriate time of year throughout our park system. The seed is stored, stratified and germinated the following spring and is used to propagate the next generation of plants for replanting throughout the city.

Young Performers Theater Camp Performances

Since 1995, the Young Performers Theater Camp (YPTC) has provided children between the ages of 9 and 18 with the opportunity to learn and train in various performing arts disciplines in a fun, structured and safe environment. Children from over 48 neighborhoods spend six weeks making new friends, building self-confidence and developing communication skills.

This year, with the support of the C.A.S.E. Advisory Council, YPTC presented performances of three musicals--Peter Pan, Guys & Dolls and Once on This Island—at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in early August.

View pictures from the August 7 performance of Peter Pan

Photos: Summer Art Camp

This summer, 50 youth participated in Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s Summer Art Camp at Wissinoming Park. Campers between the ages of 8 and 17 select either the Sculpture Program, which includes two sessions in sculpture, one in graphics and one in drawing each week; or the Painting Program which includes two sessions in painting, one in graphics and one in drawing each week. Qualified professional artists provide instructions in Drawing, Graphics, Painting and Sculpture in an outdoor setting.

View pictures from 2013 Summer Art Camp

REACH

This fall Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s (PPR) program division will launch REACH, its NEW and improved youth development system. The REACH system will house PPR’s: (1) Afterschool Program, (2) Summer Day Camps and (3) Youth Workforce Programs. Youth who participate in these programs will experience structured services that support their development and overall well being. REACH program areas include: (1) environmental awareness, (2) outdoor activities, (3) sports and athletics, (4) arts programming and (5) fitness & healthy habits.

Starting in September, 21 Afterschool programs will participate in a REACH pilot to test its effectiveness. These programs will offer quality program services that help young people feel good about themselves, their community and their future. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation has always offered enriching and fun programming for youth. However, the REACH system offers a refreshing way of offering services to youth, with a 21st Century spin! Please view the link below for more information regarding REACH or the pilot sites. Stay tuned, a REACH program may be coming to a facility near you.

Also:

• Summer Day Camps Launch: Summer 2014
• Youth Workforce Programs: Summer & Fall 2014



Help us REACH a young person today!




Continue reading about REACH

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Photos: KidsFest at the Dell Music Center

On July 23, more than 1,00 children from across the city participated in KidsFest at the Dell. Kids enjoyed rides (including water rides), a rock climbing wall, entertainment and music.

View more pictures of KidsFest

How the Newsletter Is Created

There’s no “I” in “team,” and there’s certainly no “I” in “newsletter”! Creating each issue of our internal and external issues is a pure team effort—from the small Communications Unit meetings with Ed Fagan, Alain Joinville, Patty-Pat Kozlowski and Moria Miller to map out our stories for the month, to Executive Team updates, to the stories that trickle in from faithful contributors as our deadlines draw near, to the tips submitted by our extended Communications Team, representing each unit in the department.

Another essential element of our behind-the-scenes team, our friends at the Office of Innovation & Technology, cannot be thanked enough. In particular, we would like to thank the helpful (but too humble to be acknowledged by name) Creative Specialist who receives several rounds of emails from us with attachments and add/change requests for each issue of the newsletter. With patience, this person transforms a few Word documents, hyperlinks and JPG files into the email and online versions you enjoy. It is a pleasant (at least for us!) cross-departmental collaboration, and we are grateful to work with such a talented colleague.

Parks and Recreation Commission Member Profile: Derrick Ford

Name: Derrick Ford

Professional Background: Case Manager, Communications, Therapist/Counselor

Community: Strawberry Mansion

Favorite Philadelphia Event: Being at the Dell Music Center every year since I was a kid has been wonderful. The atmosphere has always been warm and friendly. Meeting with others and enjoying the great music and entertainment will always be a highlight in my life.

Best Park or Recreation Experience: Being in the Park as a kid and playing sports has inspired me to become very active with youth sports in the Park. What a joy it has been to see the many kids develop into positive role models and become productive members of society. The concerts at the Dell Music Center have always been my favorite. The Park has always been a place for me to relax. Where would I be if Mander Playground was not there for me to excel with sports and build warm relationships with others?

Commission Insight: Being on the commission really has afforded me the opportunity to meet some great individuals who believe in the mission of wanting to improve the quality of life for those who visit our parks and recreations centers. I'm grateful for the experience and looking forward to doing what is best for the greater good.

Editor’s Note: Join Derrick at the Dell Music Center on August 30 at 6 p.m. for Round 5 of the Recovery Idol Competition. Learn more

Welcome to PPR: Keith Freeman

Safety is fun, and Keith Freeman is determined to convince you of it. As Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s new Director of Safety Operations, Keith is responsible for developing a culture of safety at the department to ensure employees have safe work practices and measures.

Although Keith only started at PPR on August 12, he has decades of experience in the field of safety and years of experience with our system. Keith was responsible for safety at refineries in Philadelphia, Marcus Hook and the Mississippi Gulf (Gulf Oil when he started; Sunoco by the time he left) for 33 years. After a 5-year stint owning a restaurant in West Oak Lane, he returned to safety in SEPTA’s Paratransit unit before joining the City of Philadelphia’s Risk Management department for six years. Keith worked with PPR for approximately four of his six years at Risk Management, so he is familiar with our areas of need.

Continue reading about Keith Freeman

Picture: Erica Smith Fichman Finishes Her Triathlon!

As an update to our August 2013 “How I Park & Recreate” feature, not only did Erica Smith Fichman complete her triathlon, but she and her friend Paige Davis were still smiling after the race! Erica finished 145th out of 325 overall, and 8th out of 16 in her age category.

City-Wide Out-of-School Time (OST) Coordination at Wellesley College

A cross-functional team from Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, along with city partners from the Department of Human Services and Free Library of Philadelphia, participated in a four-day summer seminar hosted by the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST) at the Wellesley Centers for Women in Wellesley MA.

While in Wellesley, Philadelphia’s Out-of-School Time (OST) team received training on the Afterschool Program Assessment Survey (APAS). APAS is a tool that helps after-school programs improve their program quality and reach designed outcomes for children and youth.

A major partner in Philadelphia’s “System of Systems” of city-wide planning around OST, PPR is participating in a coordinated pilot focused on measuring the impact of the city’s programming. The pilot will consist of twenty-one OST sites in Philadelphia, five of which will be PPR facilities. Additionally, PPR will utilize APAS within its REACH pilot, training twenty-one after-school programs and staff to utilize the tool. Learn more about the APAS system. Go team Philadelphia!

Coherence Project Update: Standards and Inspection Program

The Standards and Inspection Program will:

• Create a transparent system to hold PPR accountable to reaching the operational aspirations of the department and the citizens it serves.
• Identify park and recreation center features that directly affect our operational imperative of Safe, Clean and Ready-to-Use. Standards will be structured around those features and objectively rated by impartial field inspectors.
• Be a management tool that will allow us to target low performing areas and move resources to those areas to meet the standards.

In recent weeks, the Standards and Inspection Program Coherence Working Committee (CWC) has grown to include Mike Mechella, John Piller, Barbara McCabe and Gerald McFeeley, in addition to original members Chris Palmer and Maureen Maier. The team has developed interior and exterior cleanliness and condition standards for facilities, and plans to conduct a pilot program at Cobbs Creek Park beginning later this month.

Continue reading about the Standards and Inspection Program