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NOVEMBER, 2015 |
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Upcoming Halloween Events |
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Our volunteer groups and partners have lots of fun, Halloween and fall-themed events planned for the next few weeks. Check out a few below or peruse the full list, and have fun exploring our parks and facilities!
Friday, October 23
7:30pm: Halloween Campfire at Pennypack Environmental Center (8600 Verree Rd.)
Saturday, October 24
11am-2pm: Halloween Festival at Gold Star Park (625 Wharton St.)
12-2pm: 5th Annual Halloween Hoedown at Penn Treaty Park (1341 N. Delaware Avenue)
1:30-3:00pm: Halloween at the Square at Campbell Square (Belgrade St. & East Allegheny Ave.)
View the full list of Halloween events in parks, playgrounds and facilities.
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Rescheduled Philly Cup Skateboard Series Finale |
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The new date for the Philly Cup Skateboard Series finale, which was canceled due to rain on October 3, is this coming Saturday, October 24, at Grays Ferry Skatepark (3600 Grays Ferry Avenue, 19146).
Onsite registration only; $5 to register. 11am registration; 12pm start.
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Register for LOVE Your Park Fall Service Day! |
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Join Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Fairmount Park Conservancy for the 2015 LOVE Your Park Fall Service Day on Saturday, November 14! You’ll get to spend the day working alongside friends and neighbors to help clean and green one of Philadelphia’s neighborhood parks, tackling projects like litter clean-up, leaf collection, bulb planting, tree planting, mulching, painting, and more! Visit loveyourpark.org to find out where you can volunteer on Fall Service Day.
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30th Anniversary of Laura Sims Skate House
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Saturday, October 24, 6-10 p.m.
Celebration and Awards Banquet
Grand Ballroom First District Plaza, 3801 Market Sreet
Buffet Dinner, Dancing, Entertainment
Among those being honored for their financial and other support are: Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell, 3rd District; James F. Kenney, City Council at Large (retired); and James R. Roebuck, Jr., State Representative, 188th District.
Others to be honored include: (in memory) the founder Laura Sims and her family (John, Sr., John, Jr. and Donna); Theodore R. Capers, Jr., Saxon & Capers, Architect (designer of the facility); Lucien Blackwell, City Council and U. S. Congress who helped obtain funding and site acquisition and supported Ms. Sims in her efforts to open the rink.
In Gratitude: Individuals: Jimi Lewis, original skate instructor and director; Max Paul, Central City Toyota (financial supporter). Organizations: Alpha Kappa Alpha (Omega Omega Chapter), North City Congress and Department of Human Services/Support Community Outreach Program.
Invitation extended to all; $60 per person
For information, call 215-685-1995 or email laurasimsskate@aol.com
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Into the Parks Program
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The “Into the Parks” Program is an outdoor adventure program for children ages 8-12, one Saturday a month, 10 a.m. (pick-up) - 3 p.m. (drop-off), November 2015-June 2016. This program is open to children city-wide. Transportation will be provided to and from the trips from Regional Sites.
Participants will go on several outdoor adventures and participate in activities such as Apple Pressing, Fishing, Campfire Cooking, Climbing, Geocaching, Biking, Snow-shoeing, Snow-tubing, Maple-sugaring, Hiking, Kayaking, etc… throughout Philadelphia.
Regional Pick-Up Sites
District 3 - Ferko (1101 E. Cayuga Street, 19124)
Simpson (1010 Arrott Street, 19124)
District 4 - Kendrick (5822-24 Ridge Avenue, 19128)
District 7 - Rizzo (1101 S. Front Street, 19147)
To register, call or email Patricia Fries at WEC@phila.gov or 215-685-9285
$10 per child
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LOVE Park Redesign: Final Public Meeting
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Please join Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Fairmount Park Conservancy for the final public meeting about the redesign of LOVE Park/JFK Plaza prior to construction beginning in spring 2016.
Monday, October 26, 5:30 p.m.
Free Library, Central Branch (1901 Benjamin Franklin Parkway)
Skyline Room
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Groundbreaking at Marian Anderson Recreation Center
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On October 13, Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, The Philadelphia Phillies and Major League Baseball participated in a groundbreaking ceremony at the future site of the Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy indoor training facility, located at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center in South Philadelphia.
To create the new indoor baseball/softball training center, a 7,500 square-foot facility is being added to the existing recreation center. Among the many amenities to be included are four retractable batting cages, similar to the batting cages at the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, FL which is the spring training site for the Phillies’ minor league players. In addition, parts of the Marian Anderson Recreation Center will be renovated to create adequate space for fitness training, as well as educational and baseball vocational programs.
Continue reading about the new Urban Youth Academy facility
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Ryerss Halloween Ghost Tour
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Friday, October 30, 7-9 p.m.
Meet your favorite & not so favorite characters from Ryerss Museum & Library past at this family- friendly event. Tours will take place every ½ hour. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the museum with check or cash or at http://ryerss.ticketleap.com/halloween-ghost-tour/. Proceeds support Ryerss. Space is limited.
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Reminder: Community Fishing Days at the Fish Hatchery
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Saturdays through November 14, 2015
Pleasant Hill Park (8900 Delaware Avenue)
PPR's Stewardship Division is proud to host Community Fishing Days at Pleasant Hill Park for kids under 16 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Rods, bait and basic instruction provided. This Saturday program is FREE, and it’s First Come, First Fish!
Please cast your line and spread the word! Download the Community Fishing Days flyer.
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Skateboard Clinics
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Each Tuesday through November 24, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Rizzo Rink hosts the Fall Skateboard Clinic as part of PPR’s Outdoor Experience Program. The clinic is free for both boys and girls from ages 6-12. No experience or equipment is needed. Skateboards and helmets provided. The instructor is skateboarding legend A.J. Kohn!
A.J. Kohn also hosted a four-week skateboard clinic for adult females (Ladies Night), including After School moms, at the rink on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. in October, and an open rink for longboarders on Thursdays in October at 7 p.m.
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2015 South Philly Review Difference Makers
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This year’s South Philly Review list of “25 People Making a Difference in South Philly” includes several PPR coaches, staff and volunteers, as well as references to our parks, playgrounds and recreation centers. Congratulations go to:
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Last Chance to Register for Citywide Tree Giveaways!
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This fall, Philadelphia property owners can register for up to two free trees to plant in a yard or lawn on private property. Registration closes on October 23 so sign up now, pick up your preferred tree species, and choose the location for your pickup.
We also invite you to a Tree Talk & Sappy Hour in Penn Treaty Park on October 27 from 5-7pm.
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13th Annual Lucien Blackwell Amateur Boxing Tournament
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The 2015 13th Annual Lucien Blackwell Boxing Tournament began yesterday at Athletic Recreation Center and will run through Friday, October 23. Matches take place at Athletic (26th & Master streets) between 6pm and 10pm each night.
For further information please contact Fred Jenkins at 215-685-2709
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Environmental Center Fall Calendars |
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Download the Pennypack Environmental Center and Wissahickon Environmental Center calendars to learn about fun upcoming events, like candle dipping, history hikes, bird counts and more!
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Art Auction to Benefit 1025 Mifflin Street |
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Friday, December 11 at 1025 Mifflin Street
Preview: 7:00pm; auction: 8:00pm
Featuring art in all media and price ranges. Major credit cards accepted. Event includes hors d’oeuvres from local eateries, sparkling refreshments, and dessert.
Donation: $20.00 per person payable by check made out to the EPCC Advisory Council.
For tickets or information, contact: Joseph F. Marino (joseyix@aol.com) or eastpassyunkcommunitycenter@gmail.com, or stop by 1025 Mifflin Street between 1-9 pm, Monday-Saturday, beginning November 16.
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Free Art Class at Roosevelt Playground |
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On Tuesday evenings, from 6:30-7:30, Roosevelt Playground offers a free Art Class for children ages 7-14.
The class is taught by Sam Perry, Recreation Specialty Instructor. This is our second year with the class, and the participants enjoy the program.
On October 13, the children designed their own buttons and pins. Sam does a good job keeping the kids focused and having projects that can be taken home that night and shown to parents.
We'd like to thank Sam and Stephanie Gradel for helping to make this fun activity possible.
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Mark Focht Honored with Penn State Alumni Fellow Award
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On October 21, Mark Focht, First Deputy Commissioner of Parks & Facilities, was one of 19 Penn State alumni honored for their outstanding professional accomplishments and given the lifelong title of Alumni Fellow, the highest award given by the Penn State Alumni Association.
Since the award was established 42 years ago, more than 750 alumni — out of more than 645,000 living alumni — have been honored as Alumni Fellows, including this year’s group.
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PPR’s Outdoor Soccer League
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For 52 years, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation has offered the fun and safe Outdoor Soccer League to young Philadelphians. The program instills an appreciation of the physically beneficial and enjoyable game, while providing a competitive platform accessible to young people throughout the city. Every year, approximately 1,500 kids join individual soccer teams through local clubs, youth organizations, or recreation centers. Those teams register for the program and the games begin! Waterview Recreation Leader Lonnie Cohen has been Program Chairperson of the league for the last nine years. He and a committee of 15 other Parks & Recreation staff members volunteer their extra time to organize and oversee these games, which start the week after Labor Day and finish up around Thanksgiving. The season concludes with championships and playoffs, which are then celebrated at the Awards Banquet every January. Once the outdoor season is complete, the Indoor Soccer League begins and continues throughout the winter.
Continue reading about PPR’s Outdoor Soccer League
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McVeigh Loses a LegendBy Todd Colistro, Recreation Leader III
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This past summer, Gary “Arnold” Balmer passed away. For those of you who don’t know Gary, he was the creator of the McVeigh Roller Hockey League. And for those of you who have never heard of the McVeigh Roller Hockey League, stop by McVeigh one day; its history is still painted on the walls of the basement. The following is an edited version of the eulogy by Jack Thackrah read at Gary’s funeral. Jack is a former member of the McVeigh Community:
“Gary created the league in the basement of the playground in the late ‘60s. He would select captains for the leagues and each year hold a draft. The captains would then select and lead their teams. As children you would learn to lead and play together as a team, no parents to muddy it up. Your buddy was also your captain; you went through some of the greatest battles of your young life with those guys...” Continue reading Jack’s eulogy for Gary.
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Photo: Canoeing Adventures
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Between October 5 and 7, twelve recreation centers and over 120 PPR After School participants explored the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers in a 24-Foot Handmade Voyageur, thanks to Wilderness Inquiry’s Canoemobile. PPR Environmental Education staff provided interactive land-based water activities for all of the Canoemobile participants (PPR and School District). Altogether, the Canoemobile events engaged approximately 750 participants.
Pictured above are children from Guerin Recreation Center on the Schuylkill River.
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Fall Foliage in Philadelphia
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Across the city, the green leaves of summer have begun to turn into fiery reds, yellows, and oranges of fall. With one of the largest urban parks systems in the country, Philadelphians have a unique opportunity to explore and view fall foliage from a number of unique and impressive locations throughout the city.
Keep reading to find out a few of our favorite parks, trails, and paths to view the beautiful Philadelphia foliage.
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Emerald Ash Borer Suppression Update
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EAB Suppression Team in front of the magnificent 62" diameter white ash at ‘The Lilacs’ along Chamounix Drive |
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The EAB Suppression Team comprised of PPR staff and four trained interns have completed treating approximately 1,200 of the finest ash trees located throughout the City park system. The trees are being pre-treated to protect them from attack by the emerald ash borer, an invasive insect that will kill all of our native ash trees in the next 5-10 years. The work is labor intensive, requiring each tree to be cleared of weeds at the base; vines removed from the trunk; measured, drilled and injected with the insecticide, emamectin benzoate. Following treatment, trees are tagged, data is collected, and a yellow spot is painted on the tree base.
Large numbers of trees were treated within Pennypack, Tacony, Cobbs Creek, East/West Fairmount and the Wissahickon Valley parks. Trees were also selected for treatment in some of the smaller parks such as Hunting Park and Wissinoming Park. The work began around June 1st and was completed as of October 15th, when the trees began to go dormant.
Continue reading about the efforts to protect trees from EAB
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John Anderson Cultural Center on Exhibit
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For the second year in a row, John Anderson Cultural Center’s Art Club is showing its work in the Welcome Center (16th Street & JFK Blvd). This year’s theme is "Our World through Wildlife."
The club is run by Alberta Gibson through the PPR Visual Arts Program. Prizes are awarded for first, second and third place artworks in the exhibit, with at least two honorable mentions. Although most participants in the club are between the ages of 5 and 12, adults are welcome too. This year’s showing of 35 pieces includes artwork by a professional artist. The children and families love seeing their art on display, and they love having visitors see it too! Head to LOVE Park/JFK Plaza and enjoy their creations.
Read about one volunteer’s experience working with the Anderson Art Club
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Girl Power!By Emma Schad, Stewardship Coordinator
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On October 10, the Springfield Township troop of the Pennsylvania Girl Scouts bounded out of their chaperone’s wagon for a morning filled with trash and pond scum. The girls, interested in performing ecological service projects, embraced the tasks presented to them at Pleasant Hill Park off of Linden Avenue, in the far Northeast along the Delaware River.
Through squeals of excitement and disgust, the girls removed rake-fulls of pond algae and debris clogging the drain to the river from the largest pond at the far south end of the park. Next, they were off to tackle trash at the public boat launch and along the rocky outlook north of the boat ramp. Among the favorite trash finds: a brown (probably known to the owner as another color) sweater that Frannie delightedly informed us would be her Christmas present to her father this year.
They followed up their service with some fishing from the hatchery’s ponds, and after patience and many clever escapes, were successful in hooking a fish! During the quieter moments of waiting for a fish to strike, one of the troop members chirped, “Can we just pick up trash next time?”
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Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Releases Upcoming Activities Data
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A public data set has been released from the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) Program Division. The data, which is a list of upcoming activities, can be found at Open Data Philly. It contains data that have always been available publicly but is now provided in multiple formats. Previously, activity data was only available through the City’s Find a Facility Application. Now that the data is being hosted on Open Data Philly, it can be easily downloaded in a .csv file (comma separated list) or accessed programmatically through two different APIs. Documentation on how to use the data is also provided on the Open Data Philly site.
The data consists of a list of upcoming, “in-house” programs at Philadelphia Parks & Recreation facilities. In-house programs are open to the public and are run by a staff member, volunteer or fee teacher. The data has attributes including type, age, gender, facilitator type, and description. At the time of release, the data contained over 1,000 records, which is about half of the number of programs that PPR hosts each year.
Continue reading about the Upcoming Activities Data Release
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Squares of the City |
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While many know Philadelphia as the “City of Brotherly Love,” it was first most commonly known as a “greene country towne,” referring to William Penn’s hope to create an idyllic settlement in the New World. Granted a large tract of land from King Charles II, William Penn arrived in North America in 1682 and set about designing his new settlement with the help of surveyor Thomas Holmes. It was through this collaboration in which the simplistic grid pattern of the city emerged, allowing for ease of travel, prevention of the spread of fire, and separation of houses through the use of green spaces, including five public squares: one for each quadrant of the city and one marking the center.
The squares functioned under their original names: Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, Southeast, and Center until the 1824 return of General Lafayette, the last surviving French General of the American Revolutionary War. Spurred by a wave of patriotism, the names of the squares were changed to Logan, Franklin, Rittenhouse, and Washington to reflect the rich history of the city. Much like the change of their names, the form and function of the squares has changed drastically from their original use, yet they continue to function as a mainstay in the bustling city.
Continue reading about Philadelphia’s original five public squares
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Citywide Green Schoolyard Initiative Announced at William Cramp Elementary |
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On October 19, Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Parks & Recreation, the School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Water, and The Trust for Public Land announced the expansion of the City’s innovative Green2015 partnership and celebrated the latest accomplishment in the initiative, the pending completion of a new green schoolyard at the William Cramp Elementary School.
During the press conference, School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. William R. Hite, Jr. announced plans, pending School Reform Commission approval, to invest $5 million in capital funding over the next five years to support the development of 20 additional green schoolyards in partnership with The Trust for Public Land (TPL). This investment will be leveraged with private funding being raised by TPL, and through investments in green infrastructure at the schools, which will come from the Philadelphia Water Department’s innovative Green City, Clean Waters program. When combined with the five pilot green schoolyards currently in development through the Green2015 partnership, the expansion will bring the School District’s total investment in the initiative to $6 million and will result in an estimated $20 million in capital improvements.
Along with the commitment to create more green schoolyards, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation will continue its investments to convert more underutilized recreation centers into green outdoor play spaces in neighborhoods lacking readily available parks. With five recreation center sites currently in development, the department aims to develop additional green recreation centers in collaboration with TPL in coming years.
Continue reading about the Green Schoolyard announcement
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After School Program Report: Pelbano Recreation Center |
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Jerry Gaul, a Recreation Leader at Pelbano Recreation Center in Northeast Philadelphia, first started working in after school care in 1998. He chose to get involved after realizing there was a great need for after school care in the community. After 17 years, he continues to work in the after school programs because he believes it is wonderful to work with school-aged children and wants to give them the help they deserve in order succeed and feel safe in the community. When asked what he feels to be the highlight of working with kids in the rec center, Jerry said, “Seeing their smiles and the fun and enjoyment they have when participating in the program.”
The After School program at Pelbano has been around for nearly a decade. Currently, the center serves approximately 65 children, most of whom attend Farrell Elementary School across the street from the recreation center. Children in Pelbano’s after-school programming enjoy homework help from high school students, arts & crafts, music, and physical activity. The kids are also involved in PPR’s Junior Farmers program at the rec center’s garden and take off-site field trips to places such as Lincoln Pool and Father Judge High School’s track.
Continue reading about the After School Program at Pelbano
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Video: Bridesburg After School Program Report |
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Find out what happened at Bridesburg Recreation Center’s After School Program in September 2015!
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Unique Sports in PPR: Crew
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Boathouse Row, comprised of fifteen historic boathouses, is one of the most iconic and recognizable landmarks in Philadelphia. Yet crew, or rowing, is a unique sport that more often than not, most Philadelphians have only ever witnessed rather than participated in. One of the oldest Olympic sports, rowing was once considered a rich man’s sport but has become much more accessible in the last few decades, and programs abound for beginners of all ages, including Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s Summer Rowing Camp at Lloyd Hall for youth ages 13 to 17 years old.
A seemingly simple sport of propelling a boat across the water through the use of oars, rowing is actually an intricate balance of brute physical strength, endurance, and grace. Continue reading about Philadelphia rowing.
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Photo: Park(ing) Day 2015
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Thanks to everyone who visited or helped set up and breakdown the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation/Fairmount Park Conservancy Park(ing) Day urban forest at 16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard on September 18. Our temporary park won the “Groomed and Green” Golden Cone Award for “most beautifully landscaped parklet” from the Philadelphia Center for Architecture.
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Energy-saving TipProvided by the Office of Sustainability
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Use caulk to stop any drafts around windows and doors. This includes baseboards, window frames, and holes for pipes and electrical wiring. Holes to the outside will let cold air in! Try using plastic window kits to keep the warm air in.
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