The City’s Rebuild program and partners invested nearly $3.9 million to renovate this North Philadelphia park for the community.
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PHILADELPHIA (July 13, 2023) – Mayor Jim Kenney, City officials, the Philadelphia Union, Eastern PA Youth Soccer, and the community gathered today to celebrate the $3.9 million restoration project at Fotterall Square Park located in North Philadelphia. The park improvements were made possible by the city’s Rebuild program, Philadelphia’s historic investment in public spaces, and through partnership with the Philadelphia Union Foundation and Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer.
Prior to Rebuild, Fotterall Square Park had not been renovated for more than half a century. Located in the Fairhill neighborhood, this park has been designed to serve the community for generations to come. The new Fotterall Playground has something for everyone with new features such as walking paths and various sporting grounds. This community park spans the 2400 block of North 11th Street between West Cumberland Street and West York Street.
“To witness the full transformation of Fotterall Square during my final year as mayor has been an honor,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “Public spaces are paramount to the development of our youth, and the new Fotterall Playground provides a high quality space for the entire community to recreate together.”
“We’re proud to celebrate the restoration of Fotterall Square Park today,” said Council President Darrell L. Clarke, whose 5th District includes the park. “Fotterall Square playground has served this community in North Philadelphia for generations, and it was long past time for this upgrade and these additions. Everyone deserves a quality playground and park in their neighborhood, and we thank the Philadelphia Union, Eastern PA Youth Soccer, and Rebuild for these investments and work.”
Totaling over $3.9 million in investments, Fotterall Square Park has received the following updates:
- Play equipment and safety surfaces and basketball courts
- Brand new soccer mini pitch
- Benches, trash receptacles, fencing, and signage
- Installation of 12 light poles and 18 security cameras
- Installation of the Portland Loo (a single-use bathroom facility)
- Pathways throughout the park
- Landscaping
- Erosion and sediment controls
- Underground storm sewer and utilities
- New ADA accessible entrance from 12th Street
- Renovation to the existing entrance off of Cumberland Street, providing ADA accessibility
“Fotterall Square Park has been a staple in this community for 56 years, and now this community can proudly carry on its legacy,” said Rebuild Executive Director Kira Strong. “Thank you to the Fotterall community advocates who helped us restore this park, your partnership was essential to this renovation.”
The addition of a soccer mini-pitch was made possible through a partnership with the Philadelphia Union Foundation, and Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer.
“We are so excited to open another mini-pitch alongside our partners, the City of Philadelphia and Eastern PA Youth Soccer,” said Paul Howard, Executive Director, Philadelphia Union Foundation. “With each mini-pitch, we are providing a safe space for a new generation of young soccer fans to fall in love with the game.”
“Fotterall Square is home to our member soccer club, AC Fairhill,” said Chris Branscome, Chief Executive Officer, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association. “The kids in this club and this community deserve this mini pitch, and we’re proud to have partnered with everyone that made it happen.”
Fotterall Square Park is also one of two locations in Philadelphia to implement a Portland Loo, which is a single-person public toilet that is ADA-accessible.
“Fotterall Square Park’s much needed renovation will draw not only the youth, but the entire community to recreate together,” said Interim Commissioner for Parks & Recreation, Orlando Rendon. “We at Parks &Rec are excited to celebrate the renovations and reopen this beloved park back to its community.”
Rebuild is a historic investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in neighborhood parks, recreation centers and libraries across Philadelphia. Proposed in Mayor Jim Kenney’s first budget as a part of his vision for a more equitable Philadelphia, Rebuild’s promise to acknowledge history, engage the community and invest intentionally seeks to uplift pivotal community spaces, empower neighborhoods, and promote economic opportunity through diversity and inclusion.
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) advances the prosperity of the city and the progress of its people through stewardship of nearly 10,200 acres of public land and waterways, and management of 500 recreation buildings, 166 miles of trail, and 250 playgrounds. PPR offers safe, enjoyable recreation, environmental and cultural programs and events throughout Philadelphia’s parks and recreation system. PPR promotes the well-being and growth of the city’s residents by connecting them to the natural world, to each other and to fun, physical and social opportunities. In 2017, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation set about implementing the park system’s first strategic plan: Our Path to 2020 and Beyond. As a result, PPR is undertaking a period of historic change, setting the department on a course to become a modern, equitable and exceptional parks and recreation system. Visit us at www.phila.gov/parksandrec, and follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.