AUGUST 2018

Dear Staff:

Last week we received the exciting news that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court had upheld the Philadelphia Beverage Tax. We can now proceed with our plans for Rebuild, knowing that the funding is secured.

With July upon us, we’re truly feeling the “dog days of summer.” It seems like a record year for Code Reds, with our pools and spraygrounds in greater demand than ever. I hope you are keeping cool and thank you for dedicated service, despite the challenging weather.

We’re also celebrating the return of The Oval+, including a preview night for PPR staff. Thanks to everyone who joined us; I trust you and your family had fun and I hope you'll return again in the next few weeks. If you couldn't join us last week, please find time to visit this summer.

This year’s theme is "More Park, More Play!” Our design includes an expansion along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to activate the street space and transform it into a safer, friendlier promenade for all– pedestrians and cyclists, residents and tourists, young and old. You can read more about the exciting new features in the newsletter story that follows. And, of course, the continued growth of The Oval+ wouldn’t be possible with some key staff members. In particular, I’d like to thank the following divisions and individuals:

• Operations (Susan Buck, Jim Mako, Dan Schulke, and their crews, Roger Tenant Jr.)




• Skilled Trades (Frank Fabey, Harry Fritsch, Troy Nicholls, and all of the plumber, carpenter, welder, and electrician crews)




• Communications (Moria Miller, Alain Joinville, and their seasonal staff members)




• Business and Event Development (Matthew Lepchuk and Marc Wilken)

Speaking of successful and growing programs, the Dell Music Center is in the midst of a busy, exciting season. We have a limited number of free tickets for staff to attend upcoming shows. Please email parksandrecreation@phila.gov to request tickets. Tickets are for staff only.

Yours in service,

Kathryn Ott Lovell

Visit The Oval+!

Philly’s “Park on the Parkway” has returned for another season, and it’s bigger than ever before. Together with Fairmount Park Conservancy, we’ve expanded The Oval+ along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, added even more family-friendly programming, and built large-scale furniture and features for everyone to enjoy.

Traditional favorites at The Oval+ have returned too, including themed days like “Friday Food & Flicks,” food trucks, the beer garden, and games such as mini golf and oversized Connect Four.

Check out the full calendar of events at The Oval’s website.

PPR Outdoor Movie Nights

Last month, we told you about movie nights presented by our partners. This month, we’re happy to report that Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is providing an additional 40+ free movie nights across the city! We’re presenting these films now through late October, thanks to partnerships with City Council members, Park Friends groups, Advisory Councils, police districts, and civic associations.

Every movie night is free. Movies start approximately 15 minutes after sunset. In case of inclement weather, each movie night’s rain date will be the following night unless otherwise noted by our presenting partner.

Check out our Parks & Rec movie nights options here.

Seasonal Job Opportunities

Seasonal Driver (9 months) The Carousel House needs a seasonal driver to transport participants and maintain vehicles assigned to the recreation center. A valid PA Commercial Drivers License with passenger endorsement is required.

Seasonal Park Ranger: (Now-October 2018) Provide public information and assistance, public safety, resource protection, interpretive programming, and light facility maintenance. Must be 18 years or older.

TreePhilly Yard Tree Giveaway Program Assistant (September 2018-May 2019): Are you passionate about growing Philadelphia’s urban forest with principles of sustainability and environmental justice in mind? Apply to support TreePhilly’s Community Yard Tree Giveaway Grant program and other initiatives this fall.

After School Worker (9 months) Simpson Recreation Center is looking for an individual at least 21 years old to work with children in grades K-6. Responsibilities include organizing activities for children and assisting them with homework. Hours: Monday-Friday from 2:30p.m.-6p.m. (early dismissal day 12p.m.-6p.m.). Clearances and training required. For more information, please email Simpson at simpsonrecctr@hotmail.com. 

Remember to check our Employment page regularly for new seasonal positions as they become available.

3 Pro Tips for Philly Pools

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation has over 70 indoor and outdoor pools open this summer season! Whether you’re looking to relax, get some laps in, or hang with friends in the water, heading to a Philly pool is a great way to cool off.

With so many visitors, it’s best to come to the pool prepared. Check out our Pro Tips before your visit.

National Parks and Recreation Month

July is National Parks and Recreation Month, and we celebrated by kicking off a partnership with SEPTA! Inspired by this year’s Parks and Rec Month theme, “A Lifetime of Discovery,” we brainstormed a short list of parks easily accessed through public transportation.

Discover a new park from our list with SEPTA, or use our finder application to get public transit directions to another PPR site of your choice.

Unity Cup News: Volunteers Needed

Now that the FIFA World Cup is over, local soccer-lovers shift their attention to the 2018 Philadelphia International Unity Cup. Here are some recent developments:

• Volunteers are needed to help the Unity Cup run smoothly

• Group previews of the competing teams are here

• Help create Unity Cup banner art at the ACANA African Festival (August 5, Penn’s Landing)

Stay updated on the Unity Cup at unitycup.phila.gov.

Philly Summer Meals

Did you know that Philadelphia Parks & Recreation serves 1.5 million (!) free meals to youth each summer? PPR is the city’s largest provider of meals for kids outside of schools. On weekdays in the summer, we serve meals and snacks at playgrounds, Play Streets, and recreation centers.

Find free summer meals for a kid or teen you know by visiting www.phillysummermeals.org, calling 1-855-252-MEAL, or texting “FOOD” or “MEALPA” to 877-877.

Register for the Boxers’ Trail 5K

Registration is open for the Boxers’ Trail 5K on Saturday, September 8. Walk or run along the scenic cliff paths of the Boxers’ Trail in East Fairmount Park where heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier trained. Proceeds from the Boxers’ Trail 5K benefit East Fairmount Park and Mander Playground.

Register for the Boxers’ Trail 5K.

Street Renamed to Honor Mike McCrea

On July 9, the 4700 block of Ella Street near Feltonville Recreation Center was renamed  “Mike McCrea Way” in honor of the former long-serving president of the Philadelphia Recreation Advisory Council (PRAC). From working one-on-one with local advisory councils, to leading citywide rallies for the Rebuild initiative, Mike McCrea’s work was driven by a passion for ensuring that everyone knew the value of recreation programs and their importance to communities across the city. In addition to serving on the PRAC, Mike served as President of the Feltonville Recreation Center Advisory Council.

Pictured above at the dedication are Mike’s wife Debbie, his daughters Esther and Jen, his son Shawn, son-in-law Bryan, and grandson Connor. The family thanks everyone who made this event possible.

Salvaged Wood Reused for Good

The Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center has been busy milling trees removed from Philadelphia’s forests into hardwood lumber. Recently, the Organic Community Gardens at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education received a donation of wood from which they built two large tool sheds to house community garden tools. The Center thanked PPR and noted that, “This generous gift will directly serve gardeners at our community gardens but also help those who receive goods donated through the City Harvest Program to area food cupboards and churches.”

Read more about our urban wood accomplishments and where other wood has been used.

Philly Wildlife: Northern Water Snakes

Are you worried about encountering venomous snakes in Philly? If you’re near the water and see a big snake that’s hissing and flattening its head into a triangle, relax! It’s almost certainly a harmless Northern Water Snake.

Read more in this month’s Philly Wildlife Profile.

Reminder: Buy Phillies Tickets to Benefit PPR Programs

You have just three remaining opportunities to help the the Junior Baseball Federation (JBF) by attending a Phillies game!

Since 1948, the JBF has provided financial and material support to neighborhood youth programs conducted at Philadelphia Parks & Recreation facilities. The JBF funds its grassroots efforts primarily through the sale of ticket vouchers for regular season Phillies games at Citizens Bank Park.

By purchasing vouchers to one or more games, you’ll help our kids feel like “big leaguers” at their local ball field. You’ll also be supporting the year-round baseball and softball activities conducted at Philadelphia’s Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy.

So grab some Cracker Jax and head out to one of the remaining Junior Baseball Federation benefit games!

Charity Challenge

Youth from PPR's Work Ready Program have begun the 2018 edition of the "Charity Challenge.” In the Challenge, WorkReady youth participate in the planning, operation, and evaluation of two fundraising projects, with the funds donated to a local charity. Youth in each district voted and chose this year’s recipients: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Animal Care & Control Team (ACCT) Philadelphia, Habitat for Humanity-Philadelphia, Katie Kirlin Fund, Storm the Heavens, Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission, Women Against Abuse, and Philabundance. In 2017 the WorkReady youth raised over $16,000.

Recent Dedications and Ribbon Cuttings

Summer is a busy season at Philadelphia Parks & Recreation sites – but not just at our pools and camps! We’ve recently hosted a number of events across the city to celebrate new or renovated parks, playgrounds, and public spaces, including at Palmer Playground, the Hunting Park handball courts, and more.

Here’s a summary of the celebrations and renovations.

Social Media Spotlight on Summer Camps

We are proud to offer over 100 neighborhood and themed summer camps throughout the city! Here are some highlights we experienced while visiting camps during our “Camp Week” social media promotion on our Facebook page:

Treetop Quest field trip: Twice a week, our summer camps take field trips. We visited Treetop Quest Philly in Fairmount Park with Gustine Recreation Center. The campers zipped through the tall trees of Fairmount Park (see photo above), climbed through tricky obstacles, and made memories they soon will not forget.




Young artists at work: Every day at Visual Arts Camp at Parkside-Evans Playground the campers are assigned a variety of projects such as painting, drawing, crafts, and more. During our visit, they were excited and eager to share their masterpieces with the world.




From paint to pools: Campers at Mitchell Playground spend their time utilizing all that the site has to offer. Some enjoyed a fun painting activity while others cooled off in the pool.

Words of Wisdom from Lori Hayes

You might say she was made for her job...her middle name is Maple after all!

Gain some wisdom and insight from 37-year employee Lori Hayes in this month’s staff profile

Let the (Re)building Commence!

The Rebuilding Community Infrastructure (Rebuild) program received some great news this month!

On Wednesday, July 18 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the City’s beverage tax. As Mayor Kenney said in the City’s press release about the decision, “The City of Philadelphia will now proceed expeditiously with our original plans” to improve parks, recreation centers, playgrounds, and libraries.




Earlier in the month, Rebuild announced it had received a $125,000 grant from The Patricia Kind Family Foundation to begin the community involvement and design process for much-needed improvements to Vare Recreation Center in South Philly.

Staff Transitions

Fred Jenkins passing the torch

For more than 45, years Recreation Leader 1 Fred Jenkins has run the Athletic Boxing Club, a.k.a., the “ABC Gym” at Athletic Recreation Center.  During that time, he’s helped turn neighborhood kids into boxing champions. The gym walls are filled with memorabilia that record the accomplishments of those he mentored. Among his most notable pupils were Olympic Gold Medalist David Reid and IFB Champ ‘Choo Choo’ Charlie Brown. Fred’s commitment to the program grew out of love for his neighborhood, “I’m proud to have been able to give back to the community where I was born and raised.” Fred said. His son Fred Jenkins Jr. will be taking over his responsibilities at ABC, but Fred Sr. notes, “I’ll always be there helping him out."

Fiscal Unit Member Depart

After 4.5 years of dedicated service at PPR, Marguerite Morgan is leaving to accept a promotion as the Fiscal Officer for the Fire Department. We wish Marguerite well in her future endeavors.

Staff News

Your hard work does not go unnoticed!

We recently received a glowing email from a constituent about Seasonal Maintenance Attendant James Morawski. “We are all indebted to him for the supreme effort he makes at keeping the park in as near to pristine condition that it ought to be,” the local resident wrote. “I am writing to let you know what an asset he is to the community, to the park and to the city and to ask that proper recognition be given him for the dedicated service he provides.” So noted! Great job, James!

Who’s this little cutie, you ask?

That’s Mercer Douglas Roberson Reid, newborn son of PPR’s Civic Engagement Manager Naomi Reid. He arrived Friday the 13th weighing in at 6lbs, 4oz and 19 inches. Naomi says, “He's a pensive little thing, looking all around trying to figure out the world already!” Congratulations, Naomi!

Vote Early...and Often...for Bill Salvatore!

Each year, Major League Soccer and Wells Fargo recognize individuals who are using soccer to improve the lives of others. PPR’s own Bill Salvatore has been nominated for the 2018 award! To vote, go to the MLS Works site, click on “vote now,” click on Bill’s mug (pictured above), and vote away!

Top Social Media Report

The dog days of summer returned this month, with extreme heat & humidity. PPR pool and sprayground posts were the most popular topic on social media, followed by Fourth of July fun.

Here's a look at this month's top posts: download the June 2018 Top Social Media Report.

Parks & Rec Round-Up

Francisville Playground Pool hosted a very successful Poolside Yoga class as part of Swim Philly program. Over 100 people attended!

Gustine Recreation Center’s day camp enjoyed a day of swimming at Morris Estate Cultural Center.

Hillside Recreation Center's 9 to 12 year-old campers had a great time on their field trip to SkyZone Philadelphia!

Markward Playground and O’Connor Pool held swim lessons with the Just Keep Swimming swim lesson/mentoring program. Just Keep Swimming is a non-profit started by O’Connor Pool’s head lifeguard Leigha Coates.

Mander Playground’s After School program and community enjoyed the Big Apple on a trip to see Lion King on Broadway.

Morris Estate Cultural Center is hosting Jazz in the Park every Tuesday night, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The concerts are sponsored by Councilwoman Cindy Bass along with the Morris Estate Advisory Council. It’s free! Just bring a chair.

Penrose Playground’s summer camps enjoyed a day at the 33rd Street Driving Range (pictured above). Rec Leader Cornelius Edwards said the visit, “added depth to the diversity of these campers' life experiences.”