Before & After Photos Available for Download 

PHILADELPHIA – Today, the City’s Capital Program Office joined Fairmount Park Conservancy, community members, and elected officials cut the ribbon at the newly renovated Johnny Sample (Cobbs Creek) Recreation Center. This $15 million project, completed through the City’s Rebuild program, delivers a fully transformed facility that expands programming, improves accessibility, and enhances the surrounding park landscape.

“When we talk about investing in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods to improve the quality of life for our residents, this is what we mean,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “A new boxing room, a refinished gym, 70 new trees and 1,700 native plants along the trail, this is a facility West Philadelphia can be proud of.”

The renovations residents can enjoy at Johnny Sample (Cobbs Creek) Recreation Center include:

Accessibility Improvements: 

  • New accessible paths from the street and parking to the pool

  • Limited Use/Limited Access (LULA) elevator

  • Pool lift and accessible restrooms for pool and building users

  • Accessible parking space

Building Improvements: 

  • New entrance, reception area, and lobby with custom millwork

  • Restored public artwork as a focal point of the new lobby

  • New roof, HVAC system, interior lighting, and furniture

  • New multi-purpose room for large gatherings and programs

  • Flex space for meetings and small group activities

  • Boxing training room with boxing ring, equipment, and athletic flooring

  • Kitchenette

  • Refinished basketball gym with new windows, backboards, and hoops

  • New outdoor pool shower

Landscape and Site Improvements:  

  • Addition of 1,700 native plants and 70 trees along Cobbs Creek Park Trail

  • New site lighting, picnic tables, and benches

  • Building and site security cameras

This $15-million project caps a series of investments totaling over $30 million along Cobbs Creek Parkway that include the renovation of Cobbs Creek Playground, Cobbs Creek Environmental Center, and Blanche A. Nixon Library.

“Johnny Sample Rec is the pride and joy of Cobbs Creek, and I’m delighted that it finally received long-overdue upgrades,” said Philadelphia City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District). “This recreation center is just one piece of a more than $30-million public investment along the Cobbs Creek Parkway. These public work projects build off one another, amplifying their impact into a transformative suite of community services.”

The project was funded through the City’s Rebuild initiative, supported by the Philadelphia Beverage Tax, with additional support, including:

  • $900,000 from the Pennsylvania State Department of Community and Economic Development’s Local Share Account (DCED LSA) program, awarded to the Fairmount Park Conservancy

  • $200,000 from the Knight Foundation, awarded to the Fairmount Park Conservancy

  • $300,000 in Improvements to Existing Facilities (ITEF) funding secured by Councilmember Jaime Gauthier.

“Johnny Sample Rec Center has long been a West Philadelphia gem, and this $15-million investment will ensure even more of our neighbors can enjoy its newly renovated facilities and expanded outdoor space along the Cobbs Creek Trail. This is an investment in our neighborhood, our families, and the future of West Philadelphia,” said Joanna McClinton, Pennsylvania Speaker of the House. “Delivering state resources to our communities is one of my top priorities as a state representative, and I’m proud to have helped secure $900,000 in state funding to make this transformation possible.”

City, nonprofit and community leaders celebrated the project alongside the community:

“What excites me most about this project is the range of what this site offers; you can box, shoot hoops, hold a community meeting, or take a walk along the trail, all in one place,” said Susan Slawson, Commissioner, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. “I look forward to seeing the community enjoy this renovated space.”

“This building is named after a West Philadelphia legend, and it deserves to be a place the whole neighborhood is proud of,” said Aparna Palantino, Deputy Managing Director, Capital Program Office. “From the boxing room to the native plantings along the trail, every piece of this project was designed with this community in mind.”

“Cobbs Creek Park is one of Philadelphia’s great natural assets, and this renovation strengthens the connection between the recreation center and the park in a meaningful way,” said Tony Sorrentino, CEO, Fairmount Park Conservancy.  “The work throughout the landscape and along the trail transforms the rec center from a building into a destination, and that benefits everyone who lives near Cobbs Creek.”

“The updates to our rec center are an exciting and meaningful investment in the future of Cobbs Creek,” said Terance “Coach T” Johnson, who has led basketball programs at the site. “One of the most important ways we show children they matter is by creating spaces where they can learn, play, and grow. Every element of this redesign was thoughtfully planned with future generations in mind, and that commitment speaks louder than any single improvement.”

As a part of the renovation project, a defining public art feature of the original building facade called, “Dancing Children,” by Henry Mitchell has been given new life through the City’s Percent for Art program, led by Creative Philadelphia. Originally commissioned in 1968, this bronze bas relief depicting people of all ages playing, dancing and gathering together was restored and relocated from its original position high on the exterior facade to inside the main entrance lobby, where it can now be experienced as a welcoming focal point.

“This historic artwork reflects the spirit of community and family life at the heart of Johnny Sample Rec Center,” said Marguerite Anglin, Public Art Director, Creative Philadelphia. “By restoring this important, city-owned public art and bringing it into the heart of the building, we’ve reanimated it, making it more visible and accessible to the community it serves.”

For updates on the Johnny Sample Cobbs Creek Recreation Center or another capital project near you, visit the City’s Capital Projects Dashboard. This easy-to-use map-based tool centralizes information on all active and recently completed capital projects across Philadelphia. Residents can search by address and filter by location, Council district, status, and project type.

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The City of Philadelphia’s Capital Program Office (CPO) oversees the engineering, architectural, and project management functions for more than 200 active construction projects across the city. This includes upgrades to parks and recreation centers, libraries, fire and police stations, health centers, and other City-owned facilities. Through cross-departmental coordination and a commitment to continuous improvement, CPO works to improve public facilities to better serve Philadelphia residents.

Rebuild is the City’s historic investment of over $500 million in neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and libraries across Philadelphia. Rebuild promises to acknowledge history, engage the community, and invest intentionally to uplift pivotal community spaces, empower neighborhoods, and promote economic opportunity for all.
 

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