The City’s Rebuild program invested $2.5 million to install a newly remodeled state-of-the-art outdoor hockey rink

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PHILADELPHIA (July 11, 2023) – This morning, Mayor Jim Kenney, City Council President and 5th District Councilman Darrell L. Clarke, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Comcast Spectator and Governor of the Philadelphia Flyers Daniel Hilferty, Philadelphia Flyers’ Gritty, and hockey enthusiasts celebrated the reopening of Fishtown Recreation Center’s newly remodeled hockey rink. The site’s remodel was made possible by the City’s Rebuild program, Philadelphia’s $500 million historic investment in public spaces, and a community partnership with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Hockey, futsal and pickleball fans of all ages now have access to a new rink in North Philadelphia after a $2.5 million investment has transformed this nostalgic site into a hockey oasis for years to come. The rink has been fully renovated from floor to ceiling with state-of-the-art materials to keep up with the sport’s demanding wear and tear.

After the ribbon cutting, the Philadelphia Flyers embraced the local community with outdoor games and inflatables.

“Philadelphia is a sports city through-and-through and sports play a critical part in supporting our young people to grow, thrive, and build their futures,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “From new mini soccer pitches to artificial turf football fields, and today Fishtown Recreation Center’s completely renovated outdoor hockey rink, Rebuild has engaged with the community to plan and update each site in accordance to the needs of the neighborhood. I am thrilled to re-open this updated rink for the community to enjoy for years to come.”

“The reopening and remodeling of the hockey rink at Fishtown Rec Center is very important for this community,” said Council President Darrell L. Clarke (5th District), who represents the area. “Philadelphia has a proud history when it comes to ice hockey, and we want to thank the Philadelphia Flyers along with Rebuild for the partnership and the work. Who knows? Maybe the next Bobby Clarke or Claude Giroux will develop their hockey skills right here in Fishtown! This is a very good day for this neighborhood, and we’re grateful for the investment and the work.”

Totaling in $2.5 million in investments, the improvements at Fishtown Recreation Center’s Hockey Rink include:

• New roof, concrete deck and storm drains
• Updated pier work
• New hockey dasher boards, railings, fencing and lighting
• Site signage
• Handicap accessibility upgrades
• Fresh line stripping for three sports (hockey, futsal, pickleball)

“Hearing nostalgic stories from local community members lights a fire into why Rebuild is doing the work we are,” said Rebuild Executive Director Kira Strong. “To know past and future generations will now have the ability to make memories that they will later pass on to their kids shows the true heart and soul of these site locations. Keeping traditions and the history alive is top of mind during all of Rebuild’s work.”

The Fishtown Recreation Center is a 1.4-acre site that includes playground equipment, basketball courts, a sprayground, picnic area and multi-use hockey rink. Celebrations were previously held at Fishtown Recreation Center in July 2019 when a new playground was unveiled to the community after an $1.1 million investment with funds contributed by Rebuild, Clarke’s capital budget, the Trust for Public Land, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

“Sports and team-building activities are so vital to the growth and development of our community’s youngest members, so we applaud the City for their efforts to create spaces for kids to play and learn safely,” said Dan Hilferty, Chairman & CEO of Comcast Spectator and Governor of the Philadelphia Flyers. “Giving back to the community has been core to the Flyers since the team was started, and we are proud to support this great resource that will not only grow the game of hockey but positively impact youth in Philadelphia for many years to come.”

“The hockey rink is a well-used and well-loved public space for the community,” said Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Interim Commissioner Orlando Rendon. “We’re so pleased to be able to welcome hockey leagues back to Fishtown Rec and expand the programming opportunities here. From the playground, pool and now the hockey rink, we’re grateful to the Rebuild program for its continued investment in Fishtown.

Rebuild is a historic investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and libraries across Philadelphia. Proposed in Mayor Jim Kenney’s first budget as a part of his vision for a more equitable Philadelphia, Rebuild’s promise to acknowledge history, engage the community and invest intentionally seeks to uplift pivotal community spaces, empower neighborhoods, and promote economic opportunity through diversity and inclusion.

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) advances the prosperity of the city and the progress of its people through stewardship of nearly 10,200 acres of public land and waterways, and management of 500 recreation buildings, 166 miles of trail, and 250 playgrounds. PPR offers safe, enjoyable recreation, environmental and cultural programs and events throughout Philadelphia’s parks and recreation system. PPR promotes the well-being and growth of the city’s residents by connecting them to the natural world, to each other and to fun, physical and social opportunities. In 2017, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell, set about implementing the park system’s first strategic plan: Our Path to 2020 and Beyond. As a result, PPR is undertaking a period of historic change, setting the department on a course to become a modern, equitable and exceptional parks and recreation system. Visit us at www.phila.gov/parksandrec, and follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.