PHILADELPHIA, PA – Today, Rebuild Philadelphia, Councilmember Mark Squilla (1st District), Rep. Joe Hohenstein (177th District), Community Ventures, and community members celebrated a groundbreaking for site improvements at the Cohocksink Recreation Center located in Port Richmond. This $4.45 million renovation project is funded by the City’s Rebuild program, with project oversight led by Community Ventures. The Rebuild initiative is a historic capital investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in 72 neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and libraries across Philadelphia.
“The residents of Port Richmond deserve investment from their City that they can see, touch, and feel and this $4.45 million investment at Cohocksink Recreation Center will transform this site into a high-quality community asset,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “Projects like these are an essential part of how we deliver on our promise to make Philadelphia the safest, cleanest, greenest city in the nation.”
The City also received additional funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development totaling $1 million and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources totaling $600,000.
“I am honored to play a small part in making sure that Cohocksink gets the improvements it needs to make it a place where our kids can play safely,” said Pennsylvania State Representative Joseph C. Hohenstein (177th District). “Our Rec Centers are part of the beating heart of the city, and our kids deserve no less than the best facilities to learn and grow.”
“It’s been a long time coming, but we are finally here to break ground on a much-improved renovation of the Cohox Recreation Center,” said City Councilmember Mark Squilla (1st District). “We collaborated with the community to ensure their voices were heard while we planned the redesign of the playground.”
“Our team is always thrilled to work on Rebuild projects, and Cohocksink is no different,” said Community Ventures Director of Development Troy Hannigan. “We look forward to continuing to work closely with Cohox community members and the Rebuild team to see this project come to life.”
Totaling $4.45 million in investments, the Cohocksink Recreation Center will be updated with the following:
- Exterior site signage,
- New playground safety surface and equipment,
- Exterior lighting and security cameras,
- Sports field upgrades,
- Basketball court relocation,
- Perimeter fencing improvements,
- Sidewalk Improvements,
- New trees.
“Recreation centers are the heart of every community, and therefore should be a priority investment,” said Capital Program Office Director Aparna Palantino. “The capital improvements to come at this site will help grow this tight-knit community and provide a high-quality site for all current and future activities the children and youth will experience.”
Every Rebuild site is designed in collaboration with community members of all ages to capture their wants and needs. In addition to garnering feedback from community meetings, Community Venture’s community engagement team worked with Port Richmond youth attending the summer program to visualize their desires for Cohocksink and to educate them on the design and construction process.
“These improvements will make a dramatic difference in the everyday lives of our community members,” said Cohocksink Recreation Leader Gerard Walsh. “We are grateful for Rebuild’s investment and look forward to seeing our dreams turn into a reality here at Cohocksink.”
“This is an exciting day for the Cohox community!,” said Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson. “This project is another important investment in Philadelphia’s community spaces, and Parks & Rec is grateful to Rebuild for starting on the major renovations that will enhance the Cohocksink Rec Center so children, families, and neighbors can enjoy it for generations to come.”
Programming Information: The building will remain open and active for programming during construction. Outdoor field activities will be held until July 1, 2024, after which they will relocate to Bridesburg and Cione.
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Rebuild is the City’s historic investment of over $500 million in neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and libraries across Philadelphia. Rebuild promises to acknowledge history, engage the community, and invest intentionally to uplift pivotal community spaces, empower neighborhoods, and promote economic opportunity through diversity and inclusion.
Community Ventures is a Philadelphia non-profit real estate development and property management organization founded in 1987 to work in partnership with neighborhoods to improve communities and increase the supply of affordable housing. Community Ventures was selected by Rebuild to manage the Cohocksink Recreation Center improvements including community engagement, design, and construction.
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