By: Amy Hopf, Digital Content Associate

In the last month, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation hosted ribbon cuttings and dedications to officially open trails, plazas, murals, and more. Here’s a summary of where we’ve been to celebrate finished projects and announce even more to come.

Fairmount Water Works Trail & Boardwalk dedication (October 16)

(Pictured above)

Mayor Jim Kenney, Parks & Rec Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell, Congressman Dwight Evans, and Council President Darrell Clarke were joined by project partners and community members for the Fairmount Water Works Trail and Boardwalk grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony.

This $4.2 million, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation-funded project:

  • Created a new pedestrian bridge and boardwalk made of environmentally friendly, weather-resistant wood
  • Improved wetland conditions
  • Helped in the rehabilitation of multiple turtle species
  • Dredged large amounts of debris from the Schuylkill River.

Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza dedication (October 22)

A crowd with the 6 Holocaust Memorial pillars

The Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation hosted a grand reopening and expansion of the Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Parks & Rec Commissioner Ott Lovell, Congressman Evans, Council President Clarke, and State Senator Larry Farnese spoke to a large crowd of community members and honorees.

The new plaza’s centerpiece is the “Six Pillars,” which memorialize the six million Jewish martyrs of the Holocaust. Other additions include original train tracks from the railroad to the Nazi death camps and a Theresienstadt tree.

Marie Dendy Mural dedication (October 24)

Three women pose with the new mural
Some of Marie’s family stands with artist Priscilla Bell.

In partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia, we cut the ribbon on a new mural at Marie Dendy Playground at 10th and Oxford streets. Parks & Rec Commissioner Ott Lovell and Council President Clarke joined the community to dedicate this mural honoring Marie Dendy, an extraordinary neighborhood leader who devoted her life to improving her community.

Parkside Evans Playground basketball courts dedication (October 26)

The ribbon is cut for the renovations at Parkside Evans Playground

City officials and residents of the West Philadelphia neighborhood came together for a dedication at Parkside Evans Playground to celebrate renovations that came from a 5th grader’s school project. Gyasi Miller from the Shipley School worked with the City to improve conditions at the park.

The Parkside Evans basketball courts received $50,000 worth of renovations from Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. Upgrades included new plexiglass backboards and paint jobs for all three full courts and three half courts.

Read more on the Parkside Evans project.

David Montgomery Field dedication (November 4)

Officials stand with David Montgomery at field renaming

Daisy Field in Roxborough was renamed in honor of David P. Montgomery, chairman of the Philadelphia Phillies, who played baseball at the field in his youth.

City officials and former Philadelphia Phillies players were joined by youth teams, community members, family and friends, plus the Phillie Phanatic! The newly named field also received renovations including:

  • New asphalt paving around the dugout and backstop
  • Staircases
  • New player benches
  • An aerated, seeded, and fertilized infield
  • New concrete seat walls
  • An improved drainage system.

DCNR funding announcement at Manayunk Towpath (November 8)

A crowd gathers after the DCNR Announcement at the Manayunk Towpath

Parks & Rec Commissioner Ott Lovell and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Dunn announced seven upcoming state grant-funded projects throughout the city.

The grant, totaling $1.9 million, includes several Schuylkill River Trail projects:

  • Manayunk Tow Path lighting and site improvements
  • Christian to Crescent trail segment
  • River wall improvements near Kelly Drive viewing stands
  • Wissahickon Gateway acquisition

Learn more about the DCNR funding.

McCreesh Playground grant announcement (November 20)

Officials at the McCreesh Playground grant announcement posing with an enlarged check

Councilman Kenyatta Johnson and Parks & Rec Deputy Commissioner Aparna Palantino joined State officials, the McCreesh Advisory Council, and community members to announce details of a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). The grant will fund improvements to McCreesh Playground, including renovations to the roof, restrooms, and interior finishes.

Read more about the DCED funding.

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