By: Amy Hopf, Digital Content Associate
Over the past few weeks, Parks & Rec hosted a street renaming dedication, cut the ribbon on renovated parks and playgrounds, and took big strides in neighborhood park revitalizations. Here’s a snapshot of the parks, playgrounds, and sites we’ve visited.
Mike McCrea Street Renaming Dedication (July 9)
Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell, Mayor Jim Kenney, Managing Director Michael DiBerardinis, and Councilwoman María Quiñones Sánchez joined Mike McCrea’s family for the renaming of 4700 Ella Street in Feltonville.
Michael McCrea, the long-serving president of the Philadelphia Recreation Advisory Council (PRAC), passed away in October after more than twenty years of advocacy on behalf of parks and recreation. Feltonville Recreation Center in North Philadelphia, where Mike focused much of his work, hosted the ceremony. “Mike McCrea Way” will serve as a permanent reminder of the impact Mike made in the Feltonville community and throughout the city.
Veterans Playground Basketball Park Dedication (June 28)
We dedicated newly renovated basketball courts at Veterans Playground, alongside Council President Darrell Clarke, Sixers Youth Foundation, Village Of Arts and Humanities, and Deputy Commissioner Orlando Rendon.
The basketball courts came from a project called “Home Court: The Hartranft Basketball Court Revival,” a 12-month collaborative project which Parks & Rec supported. It serves as a space for community members to share and enjoy after the closing of the adjoining Hartranft Community Center in the late 2000s, and as one component of the larger efforts that are revitalizing the Hartranft neighborhood.
Palmer Playground Dedication (June 28)
(Ribbon cutting event pictured above)
Deputy Commissioner Aparna Palantino, Councilman Brian O’Neill, State Representative Martina White, and State Senator John Sabatina hosted a dedication for newly completed renovations at Palmer Playground. The construction project resulted in new play equipment, safety play surface, and a sprayground.
Hunting Park Handball Dedication (June 27)
We celebrated the completion of brand new handball courts at Hunting Park with a ribbon cutting, where Deputy Commissioner Rendon, Councilwoman Quiñones Sánchez, and Fairmount Park Conservancy Executive Director Jamie Gauthier were joined by the PHL Handball Association.
The handball courts are part of a larger Hunting Park revitalization project, led by Fairmount Park Conservancy, which has included a new park stewardship group, new sports fields and courts, a community garden and farmers’ market, two new playgrounds, and more.
