OCTOBER, 2012

Dear Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Colleagues:

Safety remains a shared concern and has been the motivation behind many of our department’s recent actions. The information and feedback you have shared both during meetings and through surveys have been key to our recent progress in elevating the safety of our facilities for staff and participants.

Using your input, we focused efforts in areas that would have immediate impact as well as took strategic steps around the more complex issues that were identified. Together, we instituted changes to Program Policies and Procedures that resulted in safer programming for participants and staff, we are building a stronger and more interactive relationship with the Police Department, and we utilized our seasonal Tree Keepers crew to address tree needs at playgrounds and parks throughout the City, which improved physical safety as well as enhanced the effect of existing lighting. Some of our more long-term efforts are directed at the installation of surveillance cameras through our Capital Programs budget, as well as toward addressing the problems related to ATV use throughout our system.

With regard to the ATVs, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds-Brown introduced a bill in City Council last week that would bolster the Police Department’s authority to confiscate ATVs operated in Philadelphia, something the Police have already been doing in greater numbers. The new bill, which expressly mentions “any park or recreational facility”, also calls for the assessment of a $2,000 fine that, if not paid, could result in forfeiture and disposal of the ATV. City Council will be holding hearings starting at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 3rd in Council Chambers on the 4th floor of City Hall. Please share this information with your Advisory Councils, Friends Groups and support groups.

And speaking of our Advisory Council and Friends Groups, over the past year the Parks & Recreation Commission has been holding its public meetings at PPR facilities, affording our support groups the opportunity to share their concerns and aspirations. As a result, the Commission is highly aware of the safety concerns within our system and will be hosting a Safety Conference in October to which they have invited speakers from Los Angeles and New York City park and recreation systems to share experiences and best practices. Advisory Councils and Friends Groups are invited to participate in an afternoon session scheduled from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Gustine Recreation Center on Wednesday, October 24th. Information will be sent directly to Advisory Council and Friends Group representatives, but your help in spreading the word will be appreciated.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to making Philadelphia a better place.

By the Numbers: Summer Programs Overview

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%

Employment

• The Department hired 584 youth between the ages of 14-18 years old through PYN. These youth worked at 119 recreation facilities across the city for six weeks.
• The Department employed 396 lifeguards and 390 pool maintenance attendants during the pool season, consistent with years past.

Outdoor Recreation

• Youth Triathlons were conducted at three sites, growing 40% from last year to over 200 participants.
• Four of five scheduled Philly Cup Skateboard Series events were completed, attracting over 150 competitors. (The fifth is scheduled for October 6th at Carmella Playground.)
• The new Summer Teen Adventure Club engaged 44 teens in outdoor recreation activities including rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, biking and zip lining. They were provided educational opportunities in the form of job preparedness, computer skills and volunteer opportunities.
• 532 Campers, up from 300 last year, participated in the Paddle Penn’s Landing Kayaking program.

Summer Basketball Leagues

• We ran 56 outdoor basketball leagues at 48 locations without incident.
• Most leagues ran for two-three nights per week, with half of the leagues running between 6 and 9 weeks.
• This included approximately 2,000 adults in outdoor leagues at the 12 sites with outdoor, adult leagues.
• Staff-run youth basketball leagues engaged 2,500 youth over the summer at the 43 sites with staff-run youth basketball leagues.

Specialty Camps

• There were about 40 National Junior Tennis League Camps serving over 1500 campers.
• Performing Arts Camps, Introduction to Performing Arts and the Young Performers Theatre Camp, saw close to 100 campers added to their registration this year.

Transitioning of Neighborhood Parks

As of September 2012, the program formerly known as Parks Revitalization Project has changed to the Neighborhood Park Stewardship Program Network, and partner responsibilities have shifted. The Fairmount Park Conservancy now leads in community outreach and assisting PPR in managing the Friends Group network while Pennsylvania Horticultural Society contributions focus on sustainable design and training for PPR staff and volunteers.

LEARN MORE

Spring Art Show 40th Anniversary Celebration

On June 7th, Carousel House graciously hosted the 40th anniversary celebration of the Spring Art Show. Among the more than 250 attendees, over 100 people — representing every section of the city and ages varying from 6 to 96 — received awards. Included in the honored guests was Herb Moskovitz, who was recognized for his dedication and 40+ years of service to the Visual Arts.

Conroy Catering provided the food, and John McBride was a terrific master of ceremonies. John also created a wonderful video that captured 40 years of visual arts. Patty-Pat Kozlowski provided the music.

Prior to the Awards Ceremony, participant artwork was displayed at the Gallery at Market East from May 14, 2012 through May 21, 2012. The Gallery at Market East has hosted the Spring Art Show for 27 years. The Art Show offers the public chance to see what is happening in the Department's facilities and learn what programs are available in their neighborhoods.

October Safety Conference

Please spread the word to friends groups and advisory councils that we are holding an open workshop for them on quality of life and public safety issues in parks and recreation centers:

Wednesday, October 24, 2012
2:00-3:30 p.m.
Gustine Recreation Center (4863 Ridge Avenue)

Visiting guests from Los Angeles and New York City will present on their experiences in urban parks and recreation systems then we will open the discussion to attendee thoughts and ideas.

Interested groups should R.S.V.P. by noon on Monday, October 15, 2012 to Moria Miller at moria.miller@phila.gov or (215) 693-3689.

Hunting Park Revitalization Expands Through Donation from Philadelphia Eagles’ Quarterback Michael Vick

On September 18, the Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation broke ground on the football field in North Philadelphia’s 87-acre Hunting Park thanks to a critical contribution from Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback Michael Vick and his newly formed charity, the Team Vick Foundation. The $200,000 contribution marked the launch of the Foundation and its first major gift. The field will be named the Team Vick Field.

The Hunting Park Football field is home to the North Philly Aztecs youth football program, the first inner city youth football team to win a Pop Warner Championship. With more than 400 athletes in its football and cheerleading programs, the Aztecs are one of the largest youth athletic programs in Philadelphia. Yet, due to its deteriorating condition, the Aztecs have not played a game on their home field in nearly 20 years.

Improvements to the football field include: drainage by elevating the field, new under-field drainage system, re-grading and resurfacing field and play areas, field lighting, installing goal posts and new scoreboard, leveling and paving of new track

Construction of football field the will be completed by late spring 2013. The football field restoration is also being funded by the City of Philadelphia; Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; JAWS Youth Playbook; LISC Philadelphia; The Philly Area Chevy Dealers' EcoAd through CBS EcoMedia; and The Philadelphia Eagles.

Inside Rizzo Rink

Imagine for a second that you walk into the lobby of a recreation center and you hear the sonorous rumble of cars speeding by over your head. You look to the right and up on the wall there are ten black and gold jerseys commemorating a gritty, talented team that came together as one and made their neighborhood proud by winning a city roller hockey championship in 2001. You look to the left and through the window you see the hall of fame banners hanging from the rafters of those individuals whose unwavering dedication, service and love for the place help made it what it is today. This is no ordinary recreation center. This is a hockey mecca. This is Rizzo Rink.

Located at Front St. and Washington Avenue (under Interstate-95) in South Philadelphia, Rizzo Ice Rink first opened in 1979. In 1985, the staff and advisory council decided to make it their primary mission to provide the youth of South Philly and vicinity with athletic programs designed to foster character development, passing on values, learning sportsmanship, and coming to grips with winning and losing gracefully. To this day, these are still the overarching goals.

You see, at Rizzo Rink, hockey is a religion and a way of life. For years, Rizzo Rink’s hockey program has served boys and girls ages 5 to 16. This program is purely instructional in nature with the primary goal of teaching the kids the fundamentals of hockey. Learning skills and competing are the major goals at this young age. Winning and the pressure to excel come at a later age, when the mind and body have further developed. There is a sign above the door to the rink area that says the following:

Success Is Not the Same as Winning
Success Is Achievement: Mastering a Skill
Success Is Striving to Win
Success Is Giving One’s Best Effort

Starting on Thanksgiving Weekend you can stop by Rizzo Rink and watch kids ages 5-16 learn to play the sport of ice hockey. You will hear the sweet crack of a crisp pass being corralled on a player’s stick, you can experience the boom and roar that takes place when a big hit is made on the boards or see the beauty of a forward flying down the ice on a breakaway.

Rizzo Rink is a rare phenomenon because it is a shining example of what community and public recreation is all about. A place not only defined by location but also by memories and relationships. It is why some kids would rather play at Rizzo even though they could play at a nicer suburban rink. When they play at Rizzo, they know the staff by name, they feel happy to see them and the staff is happy to see them. It is about emotion, about connection to a place.

At Rizzo Rink you have mothers and fathers who are still actively involved with the rink and give their time, talent and energy even though their sons and daughters are all grown up and don’t play anymore. You have sons who were raised through the program who come back and work part-time, coach a team or help officiate games. Knowing that you are part of something bigger than yourself is the essence of what Rizzo Rink is all about.

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation 2013 Calendar Photo Contest

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is announcing a contest for photographers who would like their digital photos included in the official Philadelphia Parks & Recreation 2013 Calendar. Calendars are a wonderful way to remind us of the beauty and importance of Parks and Recreation in Philadelphia throughout the year. ANYONE who has taken a digital photo of a Philadelphia Park or Recreation scene is eligible to be published in the 2013 Calendar. The LOVE Park Gift Shop in the Fairmount Park Welcome Center (1599 John F. Kennedy Boulevard in LOVE Park) will offer the limited edition 2013 Calendars for sale to tourists and the general public. Photo submissions begin NOW. Here is how the contest works:

• Gather your digital photos of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park and/or Recreation Sites: landscapes, wildlife, historic mansions, recreation centers, sports and activities; all digital photos MUST be 300 dpi.
• Beginning NOW - go to facebook.com/LOVEpark – Click on the link for the Registration & Photo Submission 2013 Calendar Contest.
• Photos must be appropriate for all audiences to be considered; Submission deadline is October 21, 2012!
• Photos will be displayed on our website (SEARCH: phillyparks-rec) for viewing & voting.
• The top 13 photos (1 for the cover!) will be professionally printed in a limited edition 2013 Calendar and will be available for sale in the Fairmount Park Welcome Center‘s LOVE Park Gift Shop in time for the holidays!

Winning photographers will be credited on the calendar with each caption. NO monetary compensation is offered. ALL photos submitted become the property of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. Winning photographers will be notified by the Marketing & Promotions Office. For more information call 215-683-0247, or email us.

Our AmeriCorps VISTAS

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation welcomes 3 AmeriCorps VISTAS! AmeriCorps VISTAS (Volunteers in Service to America) work on a variety of projects across the city designed to increase access to educational opportunities and strengthen community volunteer networks. The VISTAS work in conjunction with the Mayor's Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Service, under the supervision of Catie Wolfgang. By the end of the year, there will be approximately 24 ServePhiladelphia VISTAS working in various organizations, including Global Citizen, the Coalition Against Hunger, Philly Rising, the Mayor's Office of Education, and more.

Margaret Ernst is an AmeriCorps VISTA with the KEYSPOTS partnership through the Office of Innovation and Technology (OIT) and Parks & Recreation. This is her second year of service, during which Margaret will be working with Rec Leaders and Computer Instructors to coordinate volunteer partnerships and to build volunteerism to support technology programs available in PPR's KEYSPOTS computer labs. Last year, Margaret coordinated a project for the Mayor's Commission on Aging focused on food resources for older adults (which is why you may overhear her talking about Meals on Wheels occasionally). Margaret lives in South Philadelphia and is a 2011 graduate of Bryn Mawr College.

Jessica Wong is the Out of School Activities Volunteer Coordinator for Kathi Muller. Originally from Boston, Jessica is a recent graduate and theatre major from Bryn Mawr College, as well as an alum of the Headlong Performance Institute in South Philadelphia. She was a VISTA for ServePhiladelphia this past summer, during which she collaborated on a team of Summer Activity Coordinators in organizing a community service day in Francisville, while creating and facilitating a six-week computer literacy curriculum for youth at recreation centers with KEYSPOTS. She is excited to continue to work with the recreation centers in expanding capacity in the after-school programs. Jessica's service term will go until August 31st.

Larken Wright Kennedy is more than halfway through her AmeriCorps year at PPR working with Barb McCabe in the Stewardship Office. Known by some as the 'VISTA from Virginia', she moved to Philly last February for this position after four years of college studying environmental anthropology at Bryn Mawr. She's been part of the first ever "Love Your Park Week," helped lead the pilot play program in McPherson Square, and in general is extremely pleased to be a part of the great work that Philadelphia Parks & Recreation does!

First Annual GLOW in the Park

Join the Fairmount Park Conservancy and its supporters at the historic boathouse at Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Park in South Philadelphia for a fun-filled evening of cocktails, Philly Mobile Food Truck fare, live entertainment, and the company of park champions to celebrate and enjoy one of our city’s beloved parks.

GLOW in the Park
Thursday, October 25
6:00 p.m.
Members $35
Non-Members $75
Register now

TreePhilly

TreePhilly Ambassador Training: Tree Planting and Care
Join TreePhilly and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society for a class on how to properly plant and care for trees. We will discuss the benefits of trees and go into detail about how to plant a container grown tree. Also learn the basics of tree care and what a tree needs in the first few years after being planted. And after you learn, sign up to teach and be a TreePhilly Ambassador for proper planting and care at the TreePhilly Yard Tree Giveaways happening all over the City this Fall!

• Saturday, September 29, 1 - 2 p.m., Urban Tree Connection Farm Stand (53rd and Poplar St. 19131)


• Wednesday, October 3, 6 - 7 p.m., Haverford Library (5543 Haverford Ave. 19139)


• Saturday, October 13, 10 - 11 a.m., Pennypack Environmental Center (8600 Veree Rd. 19115)

TreePhilly Yard Tree Giveaway

Get up to TWO FREE TREES for your yard this Fall! Pre-register for your trees and choose your preference of tree type. Trees must be picked up at one of the Yard Tree Giveaway events this Fall where you will learn how to properly plant and care for your new tree before you take it home and plant it in your yard. You must own property in Philadelphia and plant the trees in the ground in your private yard space, not in the sidewalk outside of your property.

• Saturday, October 27, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Haverford Library (5543 Haverford Ave. 19139)


• Saturday, October 27, 2 - 4 p.m., NKCDC Garden Center (1825 Frankford Ave. 19125)


• Sunday, October 28, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Columbus Square (1300 South 12th St. 19147)


• Sunday, October 28, 2 - 4 p.m., West Oak Lane Library (2000 Washington Lane 19138)


• Saturday, November 3, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Second Baptist Church of Frankford (1801 Meadow St. 19124)


• Saturday, November 3, 2 - 4 p.m., Hunting Park Recreation Center (900 Hunting Park Ave. 19140)


• Sunday, November 4, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. AND 2 p.m. - 4 p.m., Pennypack Environmental Center (8600 Veree Rd. 19115)

Grow Up Green

Grow Up Green is a new, environmentally based Tot Recreation Program being piloted at two sites for the 2012-2013 school year. The goal of this program is to heighten children's awareness to the outdoor world and encourage outdoor play and a greater connection to the natural world. The program is being offered at Shepard Recreation Center, located at 5700 Haverford Avenue, and Mallery/ Rumph Recreation Center, located at 100 E. Johnson Street. It will operate Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. from October to May. Cost is $5 per week. Combined efforts amongst Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, The Fairmount Park Conservancy and PNC Bank have made this program possible.

12th and Cambria Rec Center Mural Dedication

Yesterday (September 26) Parks & Recreation, Mural Arts, artist Delia King, members of the Guild Program, and special invited guests Mayor Michael A. Nutter and Philadelphia Prison Commissioner Louis Giorla dedicated a new mural at the 12th and Cambria Recreation Center.

King worked with participants in Mural Arts' Guild Program to create a new mural celebrating the role the 12th and Cambria Recreation Center plays in helping community members realize and achieve their dreams. The project utilized the talent of ten members of the Guild, who earned fork lift and scaffolding certification, and also learned how to cut glass to create intricate mosaic designs.

How I “Park & Recreate”

Okay, I admit the photo is misleading because (1) I don’t routinely traverse treetops for recreation, (2) the photo was not taken within the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation system and (3) it was one of the few times that day that I wasn’t upside down or thanking an anonymous manufacturer for making a safety harness that really worked. However, the photo is related to Philly Parks & Rec in that I, along with a few other PPR colleagues, was checking out a potential concession for our department that would bring a new and adventurous opportunity for Philadelphians to park and recreate. I’ll share more about this and other potential opportunities in future newsletters. But all of this doesn’t answer the question of how I “park and recreate”.

I, like Andy Viren, spend a good amount of free time biking trails in different parts of the city. For me, traveling around the city by bike has been a great way to learn more about or re-acquaint myself with the city’s diverse neighborhoods as well as the incredible history and purpose that Parks & Recreation represents in Philadelphia.

And if I’m not out on my bike, you’ll probably find me around Boathouse Row. While I am not rowing much these days, I remain engaged in the rowing community as a U.S Rowing Referee as well as a working member of “Access to Rowing/Paddling Philadelphia”. These both have provided me the opportunity to remain involved in youth development programming, to help increase access to the river for a broader range of Philadelphians and in general, to associate with a great bunch of people. As a licensed Referee, I have been fortunate enough to participate in selection trials for the U.S. National Team, NCAA Championship Regattas, various Conference Championship and National Scholastic Championship Regattas, but I’ll readily tell you that nothing is comparable to following a race in a launch on a sunny day with the Schuylkill River framed on both sides by the new growth of Spring or the changing colors of Fall. Philadelphia is a special place.

Editorial

Our sincere thanks goes out to Tony Tomassetti for the great piece on Rizzo Rink, as well as to Lawncrest Rec Center for sharing photographs of their Mini-Basketball Program on our Facebook page. It’s helpful and enjoyable for all of us to see the good work that goes on in our Department.

And that leads me to ask: How about what you do and where you work? In past newsletters, we got a snapshot of a day in the life of some of our plumbers and we found out what it takes to run our Summer pool season, but our department has hundreds of stories given the wide range of what we do and where we work. We want to hear them all.

If you have a story, send it to us; if you have an idea but no story, run it by us; if you know of a fellow worker who should be highlighted, contact us. Our parksandrecreation@phila.gov email address is always open, and we’re waiting to hear from you.