By: Amy Hopf, Digital Content Associate

In the last month, Parks & Rec hosted groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings across the city.

Here’s a summary of five projects we started or completed in September and October.

A ribbon cutting at a community center
Lucien Blackwell Community Center (October 12)

City officials and residents of the Mill Creek neighborhood in West Philadelphia came together to celebrate the opening of the Lucien Blackwell Community Center.

The project, in partnership with Philadelphia Housing Authority, includes:

  • 12,000-square-foot community center
  • Installation of a multi-purpose field
  • Concrete and asphalt walkways with light fixtures
  • ADA-accessible ramps.

Meek Mill and officials present renovation designs
33rd and Oxford Basketball Court (October 11)

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell, Council President Darrell Clarke, and Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. were accompanied by Philadelphia native Meek Mill to announce a joint project with Puma. The 33rd & Oxford Basketball Court in East Fairmount Park will receive renovations and a new design.

City officials break ground at playground
Gorgas Park (October 9)

The Friends of Gorgas Park joined Parks & Rec Commissioner Ott Lovell, Councilman Jones, State Senator Vincent Hughes, and PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Regional Advisor Drew Gilchrist for a groundbreaking ceremony.

The ceremony marked the start of a project that includes:

  • The rehabilitation of the baseball field
  • Stormwater management solutions in the lower portion of the park
  • Increased ADA accessibility.

A community fundraising effort, led by the Friends of Gorgas Park and neighborhood business leaders, raised $130,000 of the project’s budget.

City officials and residents break ground
Nelson Playground (October 3)

We broke ground at Nelson Playground with Parks & Rec Deputy Commissioner Orlando Rendon, Councilwoman María Quiñones Sánchez, Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority Director of Design and Construction Robert LaBrum, and community members.

The ceremony marked the start of construction on a $620,000 renovation project funded by Councilwoman Sánchez that will result in a new playground, sprayground, and landscaping.

Discovery Center (September 28)

(Ribbon cutting event pictured above)

We enjoyed the opening of the Discovery Center in East Fairmount Park, in partnership with Audubon Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Outward Bound School. The crowd heard from Mayor Jim Kenney, Parks & Rec Commissioner Ott Lovell, Council President Clarke, and other dignitaries, and also enjoyed the center’s ropes course.

The center will:

  • Protect a unique habitat rarely found in a major urban area
  • Provide education and adventure programs that inspire self-discovery and foster personal achievement
  • Build community across Philadelphia.
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