AUGUST 2018

Visit The Oval+!

Philly’s “Park on the Parkway” has returned for another season, and it’s bigger than ever before. Together with Fairmount Park Conservancy, we’ve expanded The Oval+ along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, added even more family-friendly programming, and built large-scale furniture and features for everyone to enjoy.

Traditional favorites at The Oval+ have returned too, including themed days like “Friday Food & Flicks,” food trucks, the beer garden, and games such as mini golf and oversized Connect Four.

Check out the full calendar of events at The Oval’s website.

PPR Outdoor Movie Nights

Last month, we told you about movie nights presented by our partners. This month, we’re happy to report that Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is providing an additional 40+ free movie nights across the city! We’re presenting these films now through late October, thanks to partnerships with City Council members, Park Friends groups, Advisory Councils, police districts, and civic associations.

Every movie night is free. Movies start approximately 15 minutes after sunset. In case of inclement weather, each movie night’s rain date will be the following night unless otherwise noted by our presenting partner.

Check out our Parks & Rec movie nights options here.

Seasonal Job Opportunities

Seasonal Driver (9 months) The Carousel House needs a seasonal driver to transport participants and maintain vehicles assigned to the recreation center. A valid PA Commercial Drivers License with passenger endorsement is required.

Seasonal Park Ranger: (Now-October 2018) Provide public information and assistance, public safety, resource protection, interpretive programming, and light facility maintenance. Must be 18 years or older.

TreePhilly Yard Tree Giveaway Program Assistant (September 2018-May 2019): Are you passionate about growing Philadelphia’s urban forest with principles of sustainability and environmental justice in mind? Apply to support TreePhilly’s Community Yard Tree Giveaway Grant program and other initiatives this fall.

After School Worker (9 months) Simpson Recreation Center is looking for an individual at least 21 years old to work with children in grades K-6. Responsibilities include organizing activities for children and assisting them with homework. Hours: Monday-Friday from 2:30p.m.-6p.m. (early dismissal day 12p.m.-6p.m.). Clearances and training required. For more information, please email Simpson at simpsonrecctr@hotmail.com. 

Remember to check our Employment page regularly for new seasonal positions as they become available.

3 Pro Tips for Philly Pools

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation has over 70 indoor and outdoor pools open this summer season! Whether you’re looking to relax, get some laps in, or hang with friends in the water, heading to a Philly pool is a great way to cool off.

With so many visitors, it’s best to come to the pool prepared. Check out our Pro Tips before your visit.

National Parks and Recreation Month

July is National Parks and Recreation Month, and we celebrated by kicking off a partnership with SEPTA! Inspired by this year’s Parks and Rec Month theme, “A Lifetime of Discovery,” we brainstormed a short list of parks easily accessed through public transportation.

Discover a new park from our list with SEPTA, or use our finder application to get public transit directions to another PPR site of your choice.

Unity Cup News: Volunteers Needed

Now that the FIFA World Cup is over, local soccer-lovers shift their attention to the 2018 Philadelphia International Unity Cup. Here are some recent developments:

• Volunteers are needed to help the Unity Cup run smoothly

• Group previews of the competing teams are here

• Help create Unity Cup banner art at the ACANA African Festival (August 5, Penn’s Landing)

Stay updated on the Unity Cup at unitycup.phila.gov.

Philly Summer Meals

Did you know that Philadelphia Parks & Recreation serves 1.5 million (!) free meals to youth each summer? PPR is the city’s largest provider of meals for kids outside of schools. On weekdays in the summer, we serve meals and snacks at playgrounds, Play Streets, and recreation centers.

Find free summer meals for a kid or teen you know by visiting www.phillysummermeals.org, calling 1-855-252-MEAL, or texting “FOOD” or “MEALPA” to 877-877.

Register for the Boxers’ Trail 5K

Registration is open for the Boxers’ Trail 5K on Saturday, September 8. Walk or run along the scenic cliff paths of the Boxers’ Trail in East Fairmount Park where heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier trained. Proceeds from the Boxers’ Trail 5K benefit East Fairmount Park and Mander Playground.

Register for the Boxers’ Trail 5K.

Street Renamed to Honor Mike McCrea

On July 9, the 4700 block of Ella Street near Feltonville Recreation Center was renamed  “Mike McCrea Way” in honor of the former long-serving president of the Philadelphia Recreation Advisory Council (PRAC). From working one-on-one with local advisory councils, to leading citywide rallies for the Rebuild initiative, Mike McCrea’s work was driven by a passion for ensuring that everyone knew the value of recreation programs and their importance to communities across the city. In addition to serving on the PRAC, Mike served as President of the Feltonville Recreation Center Advisory Council.

Pictured above at the dedication are Mike’s wife Debbie, his daughters Esther and Jen, his son Shawn, son-in-law Bryan, and grandson Connor. The family thanks everyone who made this event possible.

Salvaged Wood Reused for Good

The Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center has been busy milling trees removed from Philadelphia’s forests into hardwood lumber. Recently, the Organic Community Gardens at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education received a donation of wood from which they built two large tool sheds to house community garden tools. The Center thanked PPR and noted that, “This generous gift will directly serve gardeners at our community gardens but also help those who receive goods donated through the City Harvest Program to area food cupboards and churches.”

Read more about our urban wood accomplishments and where other wood has been used.

Philly Wildlife: Northern Water Snakes

Are you worried about encountering venomous snakes in Philly? If you’re near the water and see a big snake that’s hissing and flattening its head into a triangle, relax! It’s almost certainly a harmless Northern Water Snake.

Read more in this month’s Philly Wildlife Profile.

Reminder: Buy Phillies Tickets to Benefit PPR Programs

You have just three remaining opportunities to help the the Junior Baseball Federation (JBF) by attending a Phillies game!

Since 1948, the JBF has provided financial and material support to neighborhood youth programs conducted at Philadelphia Parks & Recreation facilities. The JBF funds its grassroots efforts primarily through the sale of ticket vouchers for regular season Phillies games at Citizens Bank Park.

By purchasing vouchers to one or more games, you’ll help our kids feel like “big leaguers” at their local ball field. You’ll also be supporting the year-round baseball and softball activities conducted at Philadelphia’s Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy.

So grab some Cracker Jax and head out to one of the remaining Junior Baseball Federation benefit games!

Charity Challenge

Youth from PPR's Work Ready Program have begun the 2018 edition of the "Charity Challenge.” In the Challenge, WorkReady youth participate in the planning, operation, and evaluation of two fundraising projects, with the funds donated to a local charity. Youth in each district voted and chose this year’s recipients: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Animal Care & Control Team (ACCT) Philadelphia, Habitat for Humanity-Philadelphia, Katie Kirlin Fund, Storm the Heavens, Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission, Women Against Abuse, and Philabundance. In 2017 the WorkReady youth raised over $16,000.

Recent Dedications and Ribbon Cuttings

Summer is a busy season at Philadelphia Parks & Recreation sites – but not just at our pools and camps! We’ve recently hosted a number of events across the city to celebrate new or renovated parks, playgrounds, and public spaces, including at Palmer Playground, the Hunting Park handball courts, and more.

Here’s a summary of the celebrations and renovations.

Social Media Spotlight on Summer Camps

We are proud to offer over 100 neighborhood and themed summer camps throughout the city! Here are some highlights we experienced while visiting camps during our “Camp Week” social media promotion on our Facebook page:

Treetop Quest field trip: Twice a week, our summer camps take field trips. We visited Treetop Quest Philly in Fairmount Park with Gustine Recreation Center. The campers zipped through the tall trees of Fairmount Park (see photo above), climbed through tricky obstacles, and made memories they soon will not forget.




Young artists at work: Every day at Visual Arts Camp at Parkside-Evans Playground the campers are assigned a variety of projects such as painting, drawing, crafts, and more. During our visit, they were excited and eager to share their masterpieces with the world.




From paint to pools: Campers at Mitchell Playground spend their time utilizing all that the site has to offer. Some enjoyed a fun painting activity while others cooled off in the pool.

Let the (Re)building Commence!

The Rebuilding Community Infrastructure (Rebuild) program received some great news this month!

On Wednesday, July 18 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the City’s beverage tax. As Mayor Kenney said in the City’s press release about the decision, “The City of Philadelphia will now proceed expeditiously with our original plans” to improve parks, recreation centers, playgrounds, and libraries.




Earlier in the month, Rebuild announced it had received a $125,000 grant from The Patricia Kind Family Foundation to begin the community involvement and design process for much-needed improvements to Vare Recreation Center in South Philly.

Parks & Rec Round-Up

Francisville Playground Pool hosted a very successful Poolside Yoga class as part of Swim Philly program. Over 100 people attended!

Gustine Recreation Center’s day camp enjoyed a day of swimming at Morris Estate Cultural Center.

Hillside Recreation Center's 9 to 12 year-old campers had a great time on their field trip to SkyZone Philadelphia!

Markward Playground and O’Connor Pool held swim lessons with the Just Keep Swimming swim lesson/mentoring program. Just Keep Swimming is a non-profit started by O’Connor Pool’s head lifeguard Leigha Coates.

Mander Playground’s After School program and community enjoyed the Big Apple on a trip to see Lion King on Broadway.

Morris Estate Cultural Center is hosting Jazz in the Park every Tuesday night, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The concerts are sponsored by Councilwoman Cindy Bass along with the Morris Estate Advisory Council. It’s free! Just bring a chair.

Penrose Playground’s summer camps enjoyed a day at the 33rd Street Driving Range (pictured above). Rec Leader Cornelius Edwards said the visit, “added depth to the diversity of these campers' life experiences.”