APRIL 2018

Dear Staff:

They say March comes in like a lion, and boy did it ever this year. Despite the spring-like weather at the end of February, we have endured multiple winter storms in the first few weeks of March and it has taken its toll on our city and the department.

I want to thank the hard working men and women in Operations for the incredible work they did, and continue to do, addressing downed trees all over Philadelphia. The sheer number of service requests we received as a result of the storms on Friday, March 2nd and Wednesday, March 7th was staggering; it is now being referred to in the press as the “treepocalypse”! As this issue goes to print, our crews are still out there working hard to clean up dangerous trees and tree limbs and to get everything back to normal for the citizens who use our parks, trails, sidewalks and streets every day. Check out our story and see some pictures of the cleanup efforts in this issue.

I also want to thank the staff in other units like Programs and Human Resources for their flexibility and resilience in dealing with the late-season winter weather and the disruptions it inevitably caused. When rush hour is effected or the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia School District make the decision to close, it impacts our staff and program participants – especially school-age children and their parents. Watching all of you come together to make sure everyone was taken care of is the embodiment of what it means to be in the business of public service.

But with each passing day that the weather gets a little bit warmer, there is hope that spring is truly on its way and that the month will go out like a lamb - and with that there is a lot to look forward to. Check out our round-up of both new and time-honored spring activities and events, and make sure to take note of all the ways to get even more involved with the department during your personal time through programs like TreePhilly, summer camps for kids (registration is open!) and the new Carousel House Farm CSA. I truly believe that we don’t just work here; PPR is a way of life.

Yours in service,

Kathryn Ott Lovell

Spring Activities and Events

It’s finally time to think spring! As the days grow longer and the weather gets warmer, we’re excited about some of our favorite seasonal events. From the opening of Smith Memorial Playground with its Play-A-Palooza event to the kickoff of the Philly Cup skateboard series, and of course it’s the start of cherry blossom, tree-planting and clean-up season, there really is something for everyone this time of year.

See some highlights of what’s to come at our parks and facilities this spring​ and for even more listings, check out our​ special events calendar​ and keep an eye on our​ finder tool,​where new programs and activities are added daily!

Job Opportunities

Our latest job opportunities are below. Remember to check our Employment page regularly for new positions as they become available.

Time for TreePhilly Spring Yard Tree Giveaways

Registration is now open for Spring Yard Trees on the TreePhilly website. Sign up for the signature giveaway event at Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Center or any of the other 16 giveaway events this season. Tree species highlights this year include the Pawpaw, Eastern Red Cedar and the Franklinia, named for Philadelphia’s own Benjamin Franklin.

Register for LOVE Your Park 2018

LOVE Your Park Week is May 12-20 this year, and as always, the week kicks off with a
city-wide service day in neighborhood parks on the first Saturday. Registration for the 2018 Love Your Park Service Day opens on April 12th, so make sure to register your park for a service project at https://loveyourpark.org.

Women’s History Month

• In honor of women’s history month, Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell participated in Artful Narratives, a series of video interviews of women leaders in the City of Philadelphia government describing how the arts have a positive impact on our communities.  Artful Narratives was produced by the City’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, and you can view the entire video series on their website.


• You can honor Women’s History Month in a way that’s unique to PPR by learning about Philadelphia women who had an impact on their neighborhoods through outstanding achievements and were subsequently honored by having a park, playground or rec center named for them. 

Summer Camp Registration

It’s time to start thinking about what your kids will be up to this summer! Philadelphia Parks & Recreation offers dozens of summer camp options from athletic to educational to plain old fun. Registration is open for some camps already and more are being added every day, so keep checking back on our website periodically.

Carousel House Farm now offering CSA memberships for 2018

Carousel House Recreation Center, in partnership with FarmPhilly and Fairmount Park Conservancy, are offering large and medium size shares in their new Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Joining a CSA supports access to healthy foods, sustainable agriculture and local community building. Sign up before April 1 and receive a special discount!

Check out the Carousel House CSA sign up flyer for more details

William Rush sculptures reinstalled at Fairmount Water Works

Two original pieces of artwork created by neoclassical sculptor William Rush for the Fairmount Water Works in the early 1800's, Mercury and Allegory of the Schuylkill River (Nymph and Bittern), have been recreated and reinstalled thanks to a team of preservationists, conservators and artists with the City and its nonprofit partners. Rush was responsible for a majority of the artwork commissioned for the Fairmount Water Works originally, but as the Fairmount Water Works began its decline during the late 19th century, his sculptures were removed one by one and placed in storage or displayed by the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

A few years ago, an effort was launched to return the sculptures back to their original locations. Rather than put the original sculptures back outside to be exposed to the elements, identical replicas were commissioned and placed in the South Garden’s Central Marble Fountain and on top of the Mercury Pavilion in December 2017 and January 2018, respectively. Read about the recreation process and see photos of the newly reinstalled artwork.

Treepocalypse CleanUp

The Operations Division had their hands full earlier this month with the fallout - literally - caused by the late winter storms.  Trees big and small came down all over the city under the weight of heavy snow and crushing, hurricane-force winds.  All told, PPR received more than 600 emergency tree requests and more than 30 people were dispatched across Philadelphia as clean-up crews.  Director of Urban Forestry and resident tree-lover Lori Hayes was on the scene at many of clean-up sites taking pictures of some of the most impressive scenes.  All photos courtesy of Lori Hayes.

The Philly Spring CleanUp is here

The 11th annual Philly Spring Cleanup organized by Philadelphia Streets will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2018. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation always comes out in force during the Cleanup, and this year is no exception with more than 50 parks already identified as project sites including Cobbs Creek, Jefferson Square, Vernon Park, Campbell Square, Mayfair Memorial Playground, Hunting Park and more. Register to help in your neighborhood park on Cleanup Day on the Philly Spring Cleanup website. Don’t see your park? You can submit a project idea there too.

TreeHouse Books branches out to Rec Centers

Did you know that kids who grow up with books in their home are more likely to read on grade level? Parks & Recreation is partnering with Tree House Books to make sure that all Philadelphia homes have books so that families can spend time reading together!

Tree House Books will be providing nine rec centers with bookcases filled with Tree House Branches that contain a range of books for all ages.  Visit a Treehouse Branch in your neighborhood today!

Apply for a Philadelphia Activities Fund grant in 2018

• Managed by PPR, the Philadelphia Activities Fund, Inc. is a non-profit corporation established by the Mayor and City Council to support people and communities in Philadelphia through projects that promote sportsmanship, the arts and health.
• Applications are being accepted now through May 1st. Learn what type of projects are eligible, how to apply and download the application through the PPR website.

Reminder: Last chance to attend a Unity Cup Info Session

There are two Information Sessions left for the 2018 Unity Cup tournament. The next one will be hosted today, March 22, at the Murphy Recreation Center from 7-8pm, and the final one is next Thursday, April 5, at Ramp Playground from 7-8pm. Learn more about the 2018 tournament.

Hero Rec Leader rescues dog in Frankford

Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell and members of the Executive Team receive messages about the good work being done by PPR staffers nearly every day, but one such email from a very appreciative Philadelphia pet-owner detailed the story of an employee who went above and beyond in service to his community. Read the story recounting the details of how Art McQuoid of Gambrel Recreation Center reunited a pup with his loving family.

Recent Groundbreakings and Ribboncuttings

The weather is still on the cool side, but we’ve already kicked off the season for outdoor press events beginning on Friday, March 9 with a “goodbye party” for the old Bridesburg pool coupled with a groundbreaking ceremony for a completely redesigned pool to be completed sometime next year. The $3 million project will include a new pool basin and deck; a new building for staff; new lighting, electric and plumbing; a new bathroom and everything will now be
ADA-accessible. Check out pictures from the event.

The Dirt

Sherron Moore with the Youth Workforce and Development team sits at a desk on the 10th Floor of the One Parkway Building that faces the western door to the main hallway with the elevators.  Because of this strategic location, almost everyone coming or going on the 10th floor sees the exterior of her cubicle.  Where others might see a blank wall, Sherron saw a canvas waiting for something festive, and thought staff and visitors might like to be greeted by a splash of color and some happiness. 

Sherron’s wall is truly a labor of love.  She makes everything by hand (looking for materials as cheaply as possible!) and depending on the design, putting it together may take anywhere from a couple of days to weeks.  She looks everywhere for inspiration including Pinterest and seasonal themes.  See more photos of the spring themed wall or visit in person the next time you’re on the 10th floor!

Social Media Report

Seasonal content ruled supreme this month on the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation social media accounts. From Boathouse Row lightings to exciting new CSA partnerships and adorable dog photos, check out our top posts from March!

Check out this month’s social media report

Neighborhood News

North Philly

• Gathers Recreation Center honored native Philadelphian and 2017 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship coach Dawn Staley by celebrating ‘Dawn Staley Day’ and renaming a section of Diamond Street for her. Members of her team, the Lady Gamecocks, joined her at the rec center where she presented PPR staff members with a replica NCAA National Championship trophy. See photos from this exciting and memorable day.


• Olney Recreation Center was all about ‘Family Fun’ in February. On February 12, the After-School Program hosted a Family Game Night which was attended by about 50 people enjoyed playing board games, music and refreshments. Then on February 22, the Rec Center played host to a Family Fun Night presented by State Representatives Fitzgerald, Dawkins and Solomon and City Councilperson Parker which attracted more than 150 attendees. Here’s some photos of the fun from that evening.


• Penrose Recreation Center hosted the Creative Kids Program, during which students in the Penrose After School Program learned about different types of birds and made their own bird feeders to take home. Here is a photo of the craft project in progress.

Northwest Philly

• Kendrick Recreation Center recognized World Down Syndrome Day on March 21st by selling $2 pairs of mismatched socks. All proceeds benefited Live Up Philly, the local chapter of the national Live Up organization that supports people of all ages with Down Syndrome.


• Mt. Airy Playground hosted a volunteer clean-up on MLK Day, sponsored by High Point Cafe, to prepare for the Mural Arts Program beginning a new interior mural in February.  The mural’s theme, Children in Nature, was selected by the Advisory Council and was designed by lead painter Gregg Christy.  Check out photos of the mural work in progress.


• Gustine Recreation Center was busy hosting various indoor activities this month.  See pictures of Mr. Steve Hoppel refereeing a basketball game for the 14-and-under league in District 4, and of the East Falls’ Girl Scout Daisy troop creating a spinning arts & craft project.


• Venice Island Performing Arts Center is producing and hosting exciting performances in April and May.  On April 27-29, Venice Island will host the 2nd annual Shoe Box Short Theatre Festival featuring more than 25 multidisciplinary acts.  Also beginning in early April, the center will launch a series of new educational arts initiatives.  In May, Venice Island in partnership with Iron Age Theatre will stage Franz Kafka’s “Amerika” and as always, Improv Island continues to attract the best improv groups from the region.  More details on all of these events and more are at www.veniceisland.org.

Northeast Philly

• On Saturday, February 24th, Simpson Recreation Center Chess Club hosted 28 kids for its first ever chess tournament. 28 kids from Bacca, Cherashore Playground, Glavin Playground and Lenfest Center participated.


• There’s lots of language learning happening in the great Northeast! 
• Beginning on March 14, Max Myers Recreation Center, in partnership with HIAS PA (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society - Pennsylvania), began hosting an eight week English conversation club for Afghan women living in the neighborhood.  The club is meant to give refugee and immigrant women a space to practice conversational English and increase their familiarity with community spaces in Philadelphia.
• And at Pennypack Environmental Center, also on March 14, Park Rangers received Language Access Training and information on how to access the new telephonic services available through the Office of Immigrant Affairs.

Central Philly

Lloyd Hall hosted the Fairmount Sports Association’s basketball playoff tournaments for boys and girls 7-12 years old. Pictured above is a girls’ game on a day in late February.