AUGUST, 2012

Dear Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Colleagues:

In our previous newsletter, I wrote about Phase II of our merger and my mention of our significant accomplishments to date may have given the impression that Phase I is complete but that is far from accurate. We continue to re-evaluate the impact of our initial decisions along with furthering efforts to meet the Department’s daily needs. One area of continued focus is Safety; the safety of our fellow employees and the safety of those whom we serve. Our actions in this area are guided by feedback received during group Staff meetings and through individual surveys.

Some of our more concrete actions around safety are the planned installation of security cameras and improved lighting systems at recreation facilities through our capital program budget. We have also been effective in increasing security in a number of neighborhood parks through the work of our Tree Unit, along with the Tree Keepers, who have pruned trees and cleared areas around existing lighting to improve both illumination and sight lines.

Other initiatives that have resulted in safety enhancements include changes in Department policies and interdepartmental relationships. Last Summer, there were a number of gun-related incidents around Adult Basketball Leagues which called for a change in how these leagues are managed. This year, a new Adult Basketball League policy has been instituted that creates greater accountability for league organizers and participants but also elevates our level of cooperation with the Police Department. These combined actions have significantly reduced negative behaviors associated with the leagues and the closer interaction with the Police has provided benefit beyond Basketball programs. The Police continue to assist at swimming pools throughout the city but they have also heightened their presence at facilities and park areas that we have jointly identified as priority sites. Plus, we are working together on a resolution to the problem of ATVs and other off-road vehicles that have inflicted so much damage to parkland and recreation facilities alike.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the tremendous Police response to the tragic event that recently occurred at Francis J. Myers Recreation Center. Despite the presence of staff, along with adult volunteers and participants, a terrible crime was perpetrated on a young girl. Staff, center volunteers and community residents worked with the Police who, through their tireless efforts, apprehended suspects in a matter of days. My thoughts, and I am certain yours as well, are with this young child and her family. I am very grateful for the actions of all who stood up against this violence and re-affirmed F.J. Myers Rec. Center as a positive influence within their community.

We are an integral part of daily life in Philadelphia and we will continue our efforts to provide safe, accessible programs and amenities throughout our system. Within the next few weeks, we will be evaluating the security status of our older and multi-level recreation facilities with the assistance of fellow City agencies such as Licenses & Inspection and Risk Management. I welcome this collaborative effort but I value and need your continued assistance to make Philadelphia Parks & Recreation “Clean, Safe and Ready to Use” for everyone.

Thank you.

Summer by the Numbers

Summer camps: 160 camps at over 130 facilities

• 8,023 campers
• 2/3 of campers are returning campers
• Approximately 800 buses are used over the six-week camp period for regular day trips
• Roughly 160 buses are used to go to Clementon Park over a two-day period
• 4,500 kids are expected to go to Dorney Park this year

Summer feeding: 2,648,911 total meals served at 839 sites in 2011, averaging more than 49,000 meals per day. At our current pace we’ll top those numbers in 2012!

Pools: 70 outdoor pools

• 396 lifeguards
• 390 Pool Maintenance Attendants
• 374,160 total pool attendance between June 18 and July 8
• Our largest pool (Kelly) holds 284,000 gallons of water
• Our smallest pool (Schmidt) holds 84,000 gallons
• Most of our pools hold 108-120,000 gallons of water

Community events in parks: 340

• PLUS 19 planned Parks and Recreation movie nights

2732 @PhilaParkandRec Twitter followers

575 Parks and Recreation Facebook Likes

Summer in Photos

Get a glimpse of what’s happening in parks and recreation centers this summer by visiting our Summer 2012 photo set. Have your own photos you’d like to share? Email them.

TOP

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (Shissler Recreation Center) Goes to Rio!

Big Green Block, a project that has transformed Shissler Recreation Center, the Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts and the surrounding area into the biggest, greenest block in Philadelphia, received international attention last month. The project was one of a select few that took center stage as part of the US's participation at Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, June 20-22, 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In addition, Big Green Block was featured recently on the US-Brazil Joint Initiative on Urban Sustainability website.

Fun Safe Philly Summer Pop-up Events

On June 27 Mayor Nutter, in partnership with the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Mayor’s Office of Community Service and Civic Engagement, announced a series of six Fun Safe Philly Summer "pop-up" events throughout Philadelphia. So far this summer, children and teens have enjoyed a basketball tournament at Kingsessing Rec Center, a football and cheering clinic with the Philadelphia Soul at 19th & Washington, a skateboarding session at Granahan Playground, and free ice skating at Scanlon Ice Rink.

The remaining pop-up events are: August 1, 2012 Let’s Read! Let’s Move! Field Day (Hunting Park, 9th and Luzerne Street) August 8, 2012 Pool Party (Mander Recreation Center, 33rd and Diamond)

Anderson Monarchs Youth Baseball Team Barnstorming Tour

On Friday, July 1 the Anderson Monarchs Youth Baseball team from Marian Anderson Recreation Center departed for its 22-day, 4,000-mile Barnstorming tour. The Monarchs are coached by PPR staff person Steve Bandura who has twice before taken his teams on cross-country tours. Composed of 15 boys and one girl, the almost entirely African-American baseball team is touring the country in a 1947 Flxible Clipper coach (no air conditioning), trying to replicate the feel of 65 years ago, when the old Negro League teams barnstormed America in the same model bus.

Learn more: Read an article about the team, follow them on Twitter(@AndersonMonarch), like their Facebook page, watch a video about them, visit their website or just tell a friend about the exciting work that you are supporting as a member of this department.

Arson at FDR Playground

On June 17 the FDR Playground that was just dedicated in November 2011 suffered severe damage from a fire that the Fire Marshall’s Office determined to be arson. Despite the significant damage to the safety surface and the state-of-the-art play equipment itself, Parks and Recreation staff reopened the unaffected play area for public use less than ten days after the fire.

Our Operations staff, led by Mike Mecchella, did an amazing job in removing the destroyed play equipment and safety surface, leveling the site with wood chips and cleaning the undamaged equipment.

We are pursuing the installation of safety lighting with assistance from Duke Energy (located in the Navy Yard) and the Philadelphia Eagles, along with other partners committed to rebuilding the destroyed portion of the playground. We’ll keep you updated on these efforts.

Growing Plants/Growing Skills

At six recreation facilities located throughout the City, children are lugging watering cans, gently sowing seeds in containers, plucking the flower blossoms from Basil plants and checking tomato plants. Where and why, you ask?

Well, urban agriculture projects are underway at Kingsessing Recreation Center, Mander Playground, Capitolo Playground, Max Myers Playground, Happy Hollow Recreation Center and Lee Cultural Center.

Our Urban Ag team of Kate Halus, a Penn State Coop Extension Master Gardener, Selina Stafford and 4H Educator Lorraine Busch are helping the Department take significant strides toward achieving our Strategic Goal of connecting youth to the outdoors, promoting environmental stewardship and improving the health of all participants. These intrepid women have spent considerable time at each urban garden, despite intense heat since early July.

The project has also had strong support from Jackie Simon at Penn State Cooperative Extension who has assigned master gardeners to the sites to assist with development and maintenance. Community-based partner organizations include Earth Keepers at Kingsessing and Capitolo community gardeners, along with East Park Revitalization Alliance and Woodford Mansion at Mander Playground.

Kate and Selina have devised a number of games and projects to keep interest high as they work with summer camp participants, and they will continue to work with After School children through the Fall harvest season. The ultimate goal of Urban Ag is to expand the circle of children and adults who learn about how food is grown and enjoy the pleasures of eating freshly grown fruits and vegetables. The children who are currently growing a wide variety of vegetables and flowers will share their harvests with their families and their communities. And if you want to witness this program’s success, we encourage you to visit Mander Playground some afternoon when the kids pick their afternoon snacks right from their garden.

Uniting Cobbs Creek Park

On Saturday, June 16th, Parks and Recreation organized a bus tour through Cobbs Creek Park that turned into what could be called, a family reunion.

The tour brought together an eclectic bunch of people—residents, organized Friends, neighborhood groups, and representatives from our great partner the Philadelphia Water Department—all of whom take care of their own parts of the Cobbs Creek Park system but, because of its vast geography, were not necessarily aware of their fellow advocates and allies.

Organized by Philadelphia Parks and Rec Stewardship Director Barbara McCabe and Volunteer Coordinator Joseph Caesar, the tour began at the historical Blue Bell Tavern in the southern end of the park and ended at Morris Park in the north. Participants boarded the brand new PPR Carousel House bus and visited nine hallmarked stops throughout Cobbs Creek Park. At each stop, a dedicated representative spoke about their location.

“Diverse” is an understatement to describe the park and its many landmarks. Places such as Mt. Moriah Cemetery, the Cobbs Creek Environmental Center, Cobbs Creek West in Delaware County, a grassroots farm tended and built by the large Asian population, Papa Playground and Morris Park, are just a sampling of the amenities (and tour stops) within the park. Caesar, who has 14 years of experience working in Cobbs Creek Park, gladly unleashed his encyclopedic knowledge of all the people and places that make up the system.

And what family reunion would be complete without a meal? Parks and Recreation provided a Philly-style lunch at the Cobbs Creek Rec Center and hosted Linda Lauff, President of Friends of Pennypack Park, as a guest speaker. Most importantly, PPR succeeded in accomplishing its main goal for the day: to bring all friends of the vast Cobbs Creek Park together to discuss their goals, identify common grounds and set the foundation for working friendships that will grow and prosper.

This tour was just the latest in a series of Parks and Recreation’s efforts within Cobbs Creek Park to attract more residents and visitors to its beautiful vistas. One particularly popular event took place on April 21st when 130 runners ran the 2nd Annual Cobbs Creek 5K Race. Titled a "Run for the Kids of Cobbs," this successful event built visibility for Cobbs Creek Park, raised money for programs in the park, and brought together government, community leaders, non-profits and businesses on behalf of the park. The race introduced runners and neighbors to an off-road trail that winds along the creek, through meadows, and includes breathtaking views of downtown Philadelphia.

Cobbs Creek Park offers a lesson in Philadelphia's undiscovered history. Here are some tidbits for you history buffs:

• Did you know that Pennsylvania's first water-powered grist mill was built here in 1646 by Swedish Governor John Printz to promote economic growth?
• Or that initial battles of the American Revolution were fought in Cobbs Creek, well before the encampment at Valley Forge?
• Cobbs Creek is also the permanent resting site of Betsy Ross and many other significant colonial men and women at Mt. Moriah Cemetery.
• Last but not least, Cobbs Creek was home to John Bartram, the nation's first botanist.

Mantua in Action

Philadelphia Parks and Recreation has embarked on a new and exciting partnership with Drexel University, the Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative, Custom Ed and most importantly, various community organizations in Mantua to provide new and exciting summer programming. Staff at the James Wright Recreation Center and the Miles Mack Playground has joined forces with these partners to provide new experiences for neighborhood youth between the ages of eight to fourteen years.

Participants will have a chance to try Tennis, Fencing, Lacrosse, Wrestling, Squash and Long-Distance Running as well as participate in an intensive playwriting program. Children will be asked to focus on one activity for the duration of the summer program as well as to participate in health and nutrition workshops.

Rob Jackson, Recreation Leader II, stated, “The children in the Mantua community have really taken to the wrestling program. They are learning new skills and technique while having fun.”
READ MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM

Connecting Nature through Poetry

I am beyond excited to be teaching “The World We See: Nature, Poetry & Me” Workshops for Parks & Recreation, in conjunction with Sister Cities Park. The workshops are held every other Monday, 2:00 p.m. at 18th & Ben Franklin Parkway, during the months of July and August. Lessons are centered around, well, nature, of course, and how children, big and small, relate to it. We had our first workshop on Monday June 24th, and to say that fun was had by all is an understatement. Our theme for that day was, “What Would I Be, If I Were a Tree?”. The children were excited, enthusiastic, and very, very creative.

I've been inventing, “borrowing” and modifying creative writing ideas for years. I'm always looking out for something that guarantees success, a formula if you like. But a formula is only the start, the hook to show children what's possible. Once reluctant writers get the taste of success, we need to encourage them to adapt and modify... to make the idea their own, and to create new ones. I believe that, with the right stimulus and support, every child can write good poems.

Some of the ideas and lessons I use are more about having fun with words than with poetry as such. But I’m a firm believer that if we can just get children to fall in love with words, which is what poetry does, the possibilities and their imaginations are endless.

Quick Facts: AED Installation

• After meeting with the Fire Department and Risk Management, PPR began preparations to place the AED's.
• As of publication, our Operations division has installed approximately half of the cabinets in the larger facilities in each district. The remaining cabinets should arrive in the warehouse in late August and will then be installed as well.
• Our goal is to have all cabinets and AED's installed by mid-October of this year.

PPR Neighborhood Parks Benefit from the Green Machine

Jefferson Square, Starr Garden, Pretzel Park, Clark Park and Pennypack Park are all showing off some new looks this Summer, thanks to the Green Machine. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Green Machine Program engages communities in hands-on, on-site technical assistance for planting and green infrastructure maintenance. The program consists of experienced gardeners who work with selected park group volunteers to plan and care for existing planting beds and planters. In addition to technical support, selected park groups receive plants, materials and supplies needed for the project. If you have any questions about the Green Machine, please email PPR Stewardship Director, Barb McCabe.

Announcements

Please check out the Bridesburg Rec Center’s Facebook page where a video newsletter reviewing and previewing each week of camp is posted each weekend. Other videos promoting facility events (like Aqua String Band) or Parks & Recreation activities (JBF) are also available.

Hey, Did You See Our Newsletter?

If you are reading this, there’s no reason to answer the question because you’ve obviously seen our newsletter. But did you know that a number of our Philadelphia Parks & Recreation colleagues have not?

Recent conversations and random sampling of co-workers in different units/service areas within our Department have revealed that some of our colleagues haven't received or actually read our newsletter. Now, I readily admit that we don’t have a food or fashion section, crossword puzzles, box scores or even a horoscope in either the electronic version or the hard copies we routinely distribute. But, we have something more important and that is information for and about YOU and THE WORKPLACE where you invest so many waking hours!

Admit it; before last month’s issue, didn’t you always wonder what a day in the life of a Parks & Rec Plumber was like? And didn’t Pat McLean’s article this month provoke some thought about the use and power of words? We got to learn something about someone who works with us, something about what they do to contribute to our departmental mission as well as why they do it because we saw and read these articles.

In past issues, we have asked for your feedback, your story ideas and your written submissions. And this month, we are, once again, asking for all of this PLUS your help in literally spreading the word. Help build a shared awareness within our Department of who we are and what we do by contributing to the newsletter, by asking co-workers if they have seen the newsletter, by distributing hard copies of the newsletter to fellow workers and by letting colleagues know that they can receive an electronic copy of the newsletter by sending their e-mail address with the subject line of “Newsletter Distribution”.

Thanks for reading us and thanks for your help.