City Officials and Partners to Officially Open Conestoga Community Playground
Philadelphia – Managing Director Michael DiBerardinis, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell and Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell will join Mural Arts Program representatives and The Trust for Public Land for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Conestoga Community Playground.
The ceremony will serve as the culmination of a years-long collaboration between Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Mural Arts Philadelphia, The Trust for Public Land, and various community partners—including Mastery Charter School and the Conestoga Angels—to transform the recreation center’s park and playground, built in the 1970’s and overlooked in recent decades. Mural Arts and The Trust for Public Land worked hand-in-hand to collaborate on site design and art, and to engage local youth and community members in the revitalization project while educating them about environmental sustainability. The end result reflects the collaborative approach to transformation and reuse, including benches carved from salvaged locust trees, created by lead artist Beverly Fisher, and Wildish, a mural by artist Kim Beck, which incorporates elements of youth drawings of local weeds and trees found in the neighborhood. This project highlights the importance of partnerships and showcases how creative place-making can truly help transform a community.
WHAT: Conestoga Community Playground Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
WHO: Michael DiBerardinis, Managing Director, City of Philadelphia
Kathryn Ott Lovell, Commissioner, Parks & Recreation
Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, 3rd District
Anthony Cucchi, State Director, The Trust for Public Land
Jane Golden, Executive Director, Mural Arts Philadelphia
Beverly Fisher, Lead Artist, “Room to Grow”
Missy Benson, Play Advocate, Playworld
WHERE: Conestoga Community Playground, 5300 Media Street
*In case of inclement weather, the event will be held at Mastery Charter School –Shoemaker Campus, 5301 Media Street
WHEN: Thursday, December 8th 3:30pm
VISUALS: City officials, partners and community members will participate in a ribbon cutting photo opportunity. There will also be a performance by a Parks and Recreation drill team, the Conestoga Angels