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OCTOBER 2017 |
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Dear Staff:
It was great to see so many of you at the staff BBQ on September 8. Thanks to everyone who came out to Belmont Grove to catch up with colleagues, play some games, and show off their talents in the karaoke tent. Thanks especially to the planning committee for preparing and executing another successful gathering. You pull it off so smoothly that some might not realize how hard you worked to make it a reality, but we all appreciate the fun experience you help to create each year. Because we had such a great time at the BBQ, we want to keep the fun going with a fall event for all PPR staff, friends, and families! Please complete this survey by Friday, September 29 to let us know what type of informal staff event you'd be most interested in attending.
Our last newsletter was published during the second week of Camp Philly, soon after I’d returned from visiting the camp for two days. I am so grateful to every staff member who helped pull the new program together, from identifying kids to attend and securing registration paperwork; to organizing bus pick-ups and drop-offs; to spending several days in the Poconos, experiencing camp with the children. New programs can be a heavy lift for staff in their first year, but the feedback we received from parents and kids confirmed that it was well worth the effort. Thank you for sticking with it to make sure Camp Philly was a success, and an unforgettable experience for all!
Speaking of successes, the Unity Cup has kicked off its second season, and the games are something everyone should experience. This weekend is the final round of group stage matchups, and the festivities include an International Block Party at Marconi Plaza on Saturday, so please check out this unique department event. Games take place at five sites throughout the city.
Our work on the strategic plan continues, with the steering committee and working groups shifting from objectives to action steps for the next three years. Over the next few weeks, they will identify the who, when, and how of our plan—key elements in making it actionable. During this next phase, we’ll be identifying task forces and additional staff to assist with execution, extending its reach throughout the department. Again, if you’d like to get involved, please email moria.miller@phila.gov.
Finally, now that the summer rush is over, I look forward to hosting another round of Chat & Chew sessions with staff members. I’ve learned so much since launching the lunches this winter, and I know there are staff members out there with ideas or questions about the department that would be great for me to hear or consider. Please sign up for a future lunch (my treat) by emailing gail.o’brien@phila.gov. I’d love to have you!
Thank you, as always, for your dedicated service.
Kathryn Ott Lovell
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Fall Events & Activities |
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School is back in session, pumpkins are starting to show up on stoops, and there’s a hint of chill in the air… autumn is (almost) here! Our parks, playgrounds, and environmental education centers are celebrating the changing seasons with a variety of fun fall events, from apple festivals to Halloween parties. Plus, new programs starting up at our facilities will keep kids and grown-ups busy learning, exercising, and laughing all season long .
Learn more about fall events at Philadelphia Parks & Recreation facilities citywide.
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After School Programs |
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It’s back-to-school time here in Philadelphia… which means it’s also back-to-(After)-School time at recreational facilities citywide! Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) offers After School Programs at 80+ playgrounds and recreation centers. Programs operate Monday through Friday, 3-6pm, and include all kinds of activities: homework assistance, sports and games, visual and performing arts, and of course, a healthy snack-time.
Check out our list of PPR After School Program locations to find a site near you!
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CiderFest |
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September 30, 12-4pm at historic houses of Fairmount Park
Spend a sparkling autumn afternoon on the grounds of six historic houses in Fairmount Park sipping on more than 20 samples from some of the best cideries around. Enjoy live music and pay-as-you-go food trucks to complement your tastings. Each ticket includes a souvenir tasting cup and free house-to-house transportation via Phlash's CiderFest Loop as well as abbreviated self-guided tours of each historic house. This event is for visitors aged 21 and over only. ID required.
Learn more about the first-ever Cider Fest.
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Walk in Penn’s Woods |
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October 1, citywide
Did you know that Pennsylvania means “Penn’s Woods”? Walk in Penn’s Woods is a statewide celebration of Pennsylvania’s forests, featuring free guided woods walks across the state. Learn about our environment, wildlife, and history with local experts! Walks in Philadelphia include:
- Pennypack on the Delaware (7750 State Rd, 19136), 10am-12pm: Visit a small tidal wetland preserve and learn about native plants, wildlife, and insects.
- Papa Playground (6839 Lansdowne Ave, 19151), 5:30pm: Experience evening songbird activity and spot bats and owls as they start to stir for the night.
- Historic Rittenhouse Town in Wissahickon Valley Park (208 Lincoln Dr, 19144), 10am: Take a walk through time and explore the multiple, interconnected layers of human and natural history.
Check out the full list to see where you can join a Walk in Penn’s Woods!
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Star Players’ Into the Woods |
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October 6-8, 7pm at Venice Island Performing Arts & Recreation Center
This fall, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s Star Players present their latest production: Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods! The performers have been busy rehearsing this musical, which offers a new take on classic fairy tales. For more information or to get your tickets, call Director-Producer Bill Arthur at 215-685-2891 or email starplayers2013@gmail.com.
Learn more about the Star Players and their upcoming performance of Into the Woods.
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Senior Strut |
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October 13, 9am-12pm at Boathouse Row
Starting at Lloyd Hall on Kelly Drive, seniors are invited to join in a one-mile walk led by Mummers in colorful costumes playing lively music. There will be free t-shirts for walkers, nutritious snacks, and a wide range of wellness activities, including free health screenings, flu shots, a demonstration stage with exercise-related activities, and music. This annual event is presented by Fairmount Park Conservancy, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
Get your tickets now for Senior Strut!
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Lucien Blackwell Boxing Tournament |
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October 19-21 at Athletic Recreation Center
Celebrate Philadelphia’s rich boxing legacy at the Athletic Boxing Club (ABC) gym this October! Recreation Leader Fred Jenkins has headed up the boxing program at Athletic Recreation Center for decades, training generations of champs. The annual Lucien Blackwell Tournament offers amateur boxers from across the Mid-Atlantic region the chance to compete for an excited audience: last year, over 1200 spectators, coaches, and trainers watched the 37 fights.
Learn more about boxing at ABC Gym, get to know a few Philadelphia Parks & Recreation boxers, and register for this year’s event.
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Philadelphia Marathon |
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November 18-19, citywide
Register now to be a part of the 2017 Philadelphia Marathon, Half Marathon, Rothman 8K, and Kids Fun Run! The Half Marathon, 8K, and Fun Run will take place Saturday, November 18, with the Marathon held on Sunday, November 19.
The Philadelphia Marathon course is consistently listed among the top ten courses in the country. The route is recognized for its flat terrain, mellow weather, and tens of thousands of spirited fans. Runners can expect beautiful views through Fairmount Park and along the Schuylkill River, and neighborhood crowds gathering on sidewalks in University City and Manayunk.
Learn more about the Philadelphia Marathon (check out a map of the course) and train for the event on some of our top PPR running trails!
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Google Street View |
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In 2016, Philadelphia became the first major city to partner with Google to catalog many of the city’s trails and cultural attractions. From May through October, two Parks & Recreation employees walked more than 400 miles on Philadelphia’s trails – all while carrying around the 50-pound Google Trekker backpack to document our city’s urban oases. Everything from A to Z: Aviator Park to the Zoo, is now included in Google Street View’s imagery.
Check out a few of our favorite Street View spots: take a virtual walk through a graveyard, historic garden, and some of our scenic trails and parks!
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Unity Cup Updates |
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We recently kicked off the 2017 Philadelphia International Unity Cup, our World Cup-style soccer tournament celebrating the city’s rich cultural diversity! (Take a peek into the first weekend of the competition with a story from one of our staffers.) The weeks ahead are packed with match-ups between the 48 teams competing for this year’s cup. How can you get involved in the fun?
- Attend the upcoming Philadelphia International Block Party this Saturday, September 23 from 4-8 pm at South Philly’s Marconi Plaza (13th & Oregon St, 19145)! This free, family-friendly event will feature multicultural music and entertainment, a Parks on Tap beer garden, food vendors, art activities, games, and more.
- See the full schedule of upcoming matches, leading up to the November 11 championship at Lincoln Financial Field. (All games are free to attend!)
- Sign up to volunteer as a greeter, parking attendant, or ball snagger at a site near you.
Stay up-to-date on the latest Unity Cup news, including game results.
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Parkway 100 |
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On September 8, the Parkway Council and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation officially launched a year-long celebration of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway’s centennial! We were on the scene to enjoy the sights, sounds, and dinosaur dance sessions of the kick-off at the We Are Connected Festival (check out our photos) – and there’s plenty more fun to come.
First up: now through October 8, experience a new public art project close-up, with Cai Guo-Qiang’s Fireflies. This project brings lantern-bedecked pedicabs to the Parkway for free rides Thursday through Sunday nights, 6-10pm. Take a spin, then drop by Parks on Tap Jr at Shakespeare Park (Thursdays through Sundays, 5-10pm).
See the full schedule of Parkway 100 events.
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Philly Wildlife: Rocky’s Turtles By Tony Croasdale, Environmental Education Planner, Cobbs Creek Environmental Center |
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I think it’s safe to assume everyone reading this has seen all of the Rocky movies, and Creed. You should remember that Rocky has two turtles: Cuff and Link. Rocky’s turtles are red-eared sliders. As of 2006’s Rocky Balboa the turtles were the same individual turtles filmed in 1975. The turtles were not used in Creed but they are still alive!
What’s the connection between Rocky’s turtles… and Philly wildlife? Read on to learn more!
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Volunteer with PPR |
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Looking for a way to get involved, meet new people, and give back to your neighborhood? Volunteer with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation! From helping out at a recreation center’s After School Program, to cleaning up your local park, to greeting and directing folks at signature events, there are plenty of opportunities to lend a hand. (And one of our favorites is coming up soon: LOVE Your Park Fall Service Day will be Saturday, November 4, with registration opening Wednesday, October 4!)
Check out our guide to volunteering with PPR.
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Carousel House Farm & Broad Street Ministry |
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1,800 pounds (and counting): this is how much food the farm at the Carousel House Recreation Center has produced in one season alone. That abundance of produce never goes to waste thanks to a partnership with the Broad Street Ministry, an organization that provides meals, health services, a mail room, and more to Philadelphia’s homeless and at-risk population.
See our photo essay about Carousel House Farm’s partnership with Broad Street Ministry.
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PARK(ing) Day PHL Recap |
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On September 8, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and Fairmount Park Conservancy (FPC) staff collaborated on our fifth PARK(ing) Day parklet. PARK(ing) Day is an annual, international event during which folks transform metered parking spaces into temporary parks, reimagining the potential of those 170 square feet of asphalt. The goal: to celebrate the positive power of parks and public spaces!
This year, the team converted a parking space on JFK Boulevard near 16th Street into a shady green parklet. Passers-by were invited to step inside, relax, and learn more about PPR and FPC’s upcoming events and programs in parks citywide.
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Stewardship Unit Parks Bus Tour Visits River Wards |
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On September 16, Park Friends from across the city came together to explore, learn, and celebrate Philly parks on the annual bus tour! Coordinated by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s Stewardship Unit, the tour took 50+ Friends group members to seven River Wards parks.
Ride along with our Park Friends, Parks and Recreation Commission members, and PPR staff on the Stewardship Bus Tour.
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Staff Profile: Fred Hightower
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Acting District Supervisor Fred Hightower brings a few family traditions to the job each day: a solid work ethic, loyalty to a crew, and being “kind of a stickler on time”! Fred currently oversees the maintenance of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation facilities across North Philadelphia. Growing up, he helped out with the family business, his father’s finishing company: “Being raised in a business household, I learned some important things that are necessary for work.”
What else did Fred learn from his family? Read on to find out!
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PPR BBQ Recap |
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Thanks for joining the fun at the PPR BBQ on September 9. From karaoke singers to dunk tank pitchers – and of course, our wonderful volunteers! – you helped make it a great day. Check out our photos to relive the fun, or see what you missed.
Congratulations to all who participated in field day events and our softball game, with extra kudos to our winners:
- Field Day Winners: Keivanna Jones (Administration), Bill Klineburger (Administration), Bernard McFadden (Capital Infrastructure), Mark Paronish (Capital Infrastructure), Krunal Shah (Administration), Tiffany Thurman (Administration), Brandon Vaughan (Stewardship)
- Softball Winners: Gina Batavick (Program), Josh Bell (Operations), Kirk Boyer (Operations), Aaron "Shaggy" Hoffer (Program), Alex Hughes-Taylor (Program), Rob Jackson (Program), Steve Jacobs (Program), Terrance Smith (Program), Verland "Smack" Waynes (Operations)
Another exciting piece of BBQ news: to be good stewards of the environment, PPR got ahead of the City’s new Zero Waste Plan and piloted its first zero-waste event. The planning team came together to bring compostable and recyclable materials – and appropriate receptacles – and the BBQ achieved a 66% waste diversion rate! (That means two out of every three pounds of waste generated was diverted from a landfill.) Keep up the good work, everyone!
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Staff Changes |
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New Hires:
Kenneth Achuff, Grounds and Facilities Maintenance Worker
Misty Caleb, Departmental Human Resources Manager 3
Naeem Carter, Carpenter 1
Stephen Grosso, Assistant Recreation Leader
Herbert Jones, Grounds and Facilities Maintenance Worker
Promotions:
Robert Broadwater, Recreation Facilities Caretaker 2
Albert Brown, Recreation Facilities Caretaker 2
Jean Carr, Departmental Procurement Specialist
Charles Fambrough, Grounds Maintenance Worker Crew Chief
Daniel Smith, Grounds Maintenance Worker Crew Chief
Michael Smith, Recreation Facilities Caretaker 2
Daniel Windle, Grounds Maintenance Worker Crew Chief
Gerald Willis, Grounds Maintenance Worker Crew Chief
Resignations:
James Angotta, Plumbing and Heating Maintenance Worker
Gabriel Henninger, Assistant Recreation Leader
Walter Keiser, Assistant Recreation Leader
Gregory Kemp, Grounds and Facilities Maintenance Worker
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Welcome New Staff |
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There’s a new face on the 10th floor: meet Misty E. Caleb, our new Human Resources Manager! Misty is responsible for the department’s human resources program, supporting 1500+ full-time and seasonal employees. She’s been working for the City of Philadelphia since 2006.
Learn more about Misty and her role with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
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Customer Service Corner |
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Theme for September: Why good service matters to your agency
Defaqto research states: “55% of customers say that they would PAY for a better customer experience.”
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The Dirt |
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For this month’s edition of The Dirt, we went on a bit of a scavenger hunt. Long-time staff members shared their original department photo IDs with us, dating back as far as 1984! Can you guess who these folks are? They all still work for Philadelphia Parks & Recreation… though they may be sporting slightly different hairdos these days. Answers will be revealed in next month’s newsletter.
Also, a few staff members recently attended the Phillies doubleheader, where they caught something a bit more exciting than a foul ball: a peregrine falcon! Read on to learn more about their falcon rescue.
Got tips for The Dirt, our monthly newsletter spot for Parks & Recreation employees to share their stories? Send them to parksandrecreation@phila.gov.
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Social Media Update |
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All summer long, our pools and press events tended to perform well on social media, ending up in our top post roundups frequently. Since this month marked the beginning of the seasonal transition in the department, the content that performed well also started to shift in comparison to previous months. Our “Respect Philly’s Parks” flyer, green Boathouse Row lights for the Eagles, and the Google Trekker announcement were the top performing posts.
Download our overview of the top social media posts in the last month.
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Philadelphia Parks & Playgrounds: Neighborhood News |
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With Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) programs, events, and activities going on in every corner of the city, it can be hard to keep up with all of the fun! Check out our “Neighborhood News” round-up for a sampling of stories from sites near you.
Center City
- Photo above: On September 9, the 12th Annual Philly Fun Fishing Fest was held at the Schuylkill Banks, beneath the Walnut Street Bridge. 131 fish (plus one turtle) were caught and safely released by anglers young and old!
Northeast Philly
North Philly
- Photo above: On August 21, Mayor Jim Kenney, PPR Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell, and other PPR staff members came to Feltonville Recreation Center to celebrate the Mural Arts project on-site!
River Wards
- Photo above: Bridesburg Recreation Center was bustling with exciting events last month: from the Annual Water Show (August 16 through 17), to summer campers’ celebration of First Responders Appreciation Day on August 17, to the Aqua String Band Concert on August 29!
- Courtney Hoffman has played basketball all over Philadelphia, including in a PPR league – and now she’s headed overseas to shoot hoops. She’ll be representing the United States in the 2018 Italy Continental Cup next summer. (Courtney’s other claim to PPR fame: she’s lifeguarded at Jacobs Pool for three years!)
South Philly
- Photo above: Burke Playground has had new children’s play equipment, adult fitness equipment, and safety surface installed! Repairs were also recently made to basketball and hockey courts.
- In August, PPR held its first annual citywide softball tournament. The championship game came down to teams from Palumbo Recreation Center vs. Bridesburg Recreation Center.
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