Playgrounds and recreation centers are the beating heart of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. They provide essential programs, services, and activities that help children and families to thrive. Now more than ever, communities need safe, high quality public spaces to recreate outside of the home. 

Recreation leader Dana Clark and the neighbors who call the 8th & Diamond Playground home have long outgrown the North Philadelphia park’s small one room recreation building. Programs at 8th & Diamond are popular with neighborhood kids, but there is always a waiting list because of the limited space in the recreation building. 

Thanks to a project led by The Division of Housing and Community Development, with additional funding from Rebuild and Council President Darrell Clarke, 8th & Diamond Playground is getting a much needed renovation. 

The $2.2 million project will double the size of the recreation building, adding a new reception area, a second multipurpose room, and renovations to the existing facility. The project will offer a new, brightly-lit, ADA compliant building entrance. Finally, 8th & Diamond is getting brand new playground equipment and tree plantings.

With a larger, more accessible building, Parks & Recreation will be able to offer more programming, and reach more residents. 

“The renovation of 8th & Diamond Playground is at the heart of our effort to invest in this neighborhood. Good housing, strong social services, and places to play work together to help families succeed and communities thrive.” said Melissa Long, Director of the Division of Housing and Community Development. 

Recreation Leader Dana Clark, the 8th & Diamond Advisory Council, and the community look forward to joining the City to put the ribbon on their renovated facility this year.

Made possible by the Philadelphia Beverage Tax, Rebuild is a program to put hundreds of millions of dollars in critical facilities repairs to neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and libraries across Philadelphia. Two thirds of Rebuild sites are in high needs neighborhoods, and the majority of funds will be spent in predominately African-American and Hispanic communities.