Philadelphia began the green phase of reopening in early July. COVID-19 is not gone, so we must reopen with care. Read more about our progress on the Reopening With Care site.

Here’s what the reopening guidance means for Philadelphia Parks & Recreation services and sites.

What’s open: A to Z

Athletic fields

• Parks & Rec is taking permit applications for use of baseball and athletics fields:
  • Games and spectators are not allowed.
  • For now, indoor gym permits will not be issued.

Basketball courts

• Games are not allowed on Parks & Rec’s outdoor basketball courts.
• Court occupancy cannot exceed a total of 25 people. This includes participants and spectators.
• Players must:
  • Wear masks at all times.
  • Practice skills and drills only.
  • Keep six feet apart.
  • Wash or sanitize hands before and after play.

Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center

• The Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center is open for business. All visitors must:
  • Wear masks. Visitors without masks will be denied service.
  • Bring their own shovel if picking up from the self-serve piles.
• Learn how to dispose of organic material.
• Learn how to get organic material.

Food Concessions

• Our popular food concessions are open for pick up, take out, and outdoor dining.
• All operations follow public health guidance.

Golf courses & driving ranges

• Parks & Rec’s five golf courses and two driving ranges are open for play.
• Players and staff must keep six feet of distance between themselves and others.
• Players must make reservations in advance. Read the full details.

Older Adult Centers

• Parks & Rec’s six older adult centers are currently closed to the public.
• In the event of a heat health emergency, these centers will operate as cooling sites Monday to Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Parks

• Parks & Rec’s parks remain open.
• Please follow the posted rules and regulations.

Parks on Tap

• The traveling beer garden that benefits Parks & Rec is back in a reimagined format for this season.
• Check out location information, hours, menu, and other details.

Picnic permits

• Parks & Rec is issuing permits for picnics, weddings, recreational activities, and sports. Permits require that:
  • Events must be held outdoors.
  • Guests are limited to 50 or fewer and must pre-register.
  • Organizers must follow health guidelines and other rules.
• For more information, read our blog post on permit updates.

Playgrounds

• All playgrounds at Parks & Rec sites are open.
• Be sure to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol after use.

Sports

• Non-competitive team sports can resume. They must follow these guidelines:
  • Players may practice and take part in skills-building activities only.
  • Players should wear a mask or keep at least 6 feet apart.
  • Competitive games are not allowed.
  • Spectators are limited to 25 or fewer people.
• Permits:
  • Parks & Rec is issuing permits for use of baseball and athletics fields. The permits require:
    • Outdoor group sports only.
    • Player and spectator limits.
    • Adherence to health guidelines.
  • For more information, read our blog post on permit updates.
  • For now, indoor gym permits will not be issued.

Spraygrounds

• Parks & Rec’s sprinklers and spraygrounds are open to the public:
  • Weekdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Weekends from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Trails

• Parks & Rec’s trails are open. Please follow these guidelines:
  • Keep six feet of space between you and other trail users.
  • Be sure to wear a mask when you are less than six feet from others.
• Explore a new trail! Use our trails web map.
• Read our trail regulations.

What’s closed, canceled, or prohibited

Buildings and bathrooms

• Parks & Rec buildings and bathrooms remain closed to the public. This includes:
  • recreation centers
  • older adult centers – some older adult centers may be open as cooling centers. See the notes above.
  • environmental centers
  • ice rinks

Events

• Most Parks & Rec events and programs are canceled until further notice.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive in West Fairmount Park remains closed to vehicular traffic:
  • The drive is closed from the East Falls Bridge to Eakins Oval.
  • This 24-hour-a-day closure provides more space for trail users to practice social distancing.

Pools

• Parks & Rec pools are not open in 2020. Please cool down at one of our sprinklers and spraygrounds.

Help keep our parks clean!

Parks & Rec continues our maintenance operations such as trash pickup, landscaping, and mowing. Due to COVID-related budget restrictions, these will occur with less frequency.
Do your part to help keep our parks and trails clean for all:

• Please carry out what you carry in!
• Volunteer to clean up your park—sign up to Love Your Park Solo.