Kingsessing Library and Recreation Center have been selected as sites eligible for improvements as part of the City of Philadelphia’s Rebuild program.

Rebuild coordinators are currently in the process of learning about these two sites and are asking community members to provide feedback by completing an online survey.

The survey asks community members to identify areas for improvement (outdoor and indoor) at each site among other questions. Continue Reading

As an alternative to public pools, the city’s spraygrounds will be allowed to open this summer. Beginning Monday, July 6, 91 public spraygrounds will start to open in Philadelphia on a rolling basis. All spraygrounds will be staffed at all times to make sure that everyone is safe on-site. COVID-19 safety measures at spraygrounds include the following rules:

• Limited capacity based on sprayground size
• Social distancing of at least six feet

To find a sprayground near you and its hours of operation, go here.

Public pools will remain closed this summer due to COVID-19.

Coach Duane Jones of the West Philly Tarheels by Morris Park/Papa Playground, the Tarheels’ home field, which has recently been torn up for replacement work on a sewer under the field. (Photo by Sam Newhouse)

The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) is currently working on infrastructure improvement projects across the city. But some work has put out a West Philly youth football organization, and their coach is concerned the work will leave his home field even worse off than it already was.

The West Philly Tarheels on the field. (Photo courtesy of the Tarheels)

Coach Duane Jones of the West Philly Tarheels said preseason drills for his Pop Warner football organization are due to start in Morris Park at 66th and Lansdowne – also known as Papa Playground – in March. But ongoing work to repair a sewer running under the field will prevent them from playing there until April at the earliest, if the project finishes on schedule. Jones is also concerned the field, already uneven and prone to divots and instability that have caused more than a few twisted ankles, might be even more unstable after the work.  Continue Reading

2019 Philadelphia Marathon course map (click to enlarge).

The 2019 Philadelphia Marathon will be held this weekend, with some events, including a half-marathon, scheduled on Saturday, Nov. 23 and the main event on Sunday, Nov. 24 (beginning at 6:55 a.m.). The event attracts over 30,000 runners and 60,000 spectators,  so road closures and detours begin as early as Friday. If you’re planning to drive in the area this weekend, check out the details below.

The following road closures have been announced ahead of the 2019 marathon:

Friday, November 22

The inner-drive lanes (both directions) of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed, from 9:30 a.m. until 2:45 p.m.. At 2:45 p.m., all lanes will be opened for the afternoon rush hour. Inbound, inner lanes from Binswanger Triangle to 22nd Street will remain closed.

Saturday, November 23

Motorists and pedestrians can expect significant delays when trying to cross roads or streets that are adjacent to the course. The following streets will be affected across the city on Saturday from 2 a.m. until 3 p.m.:

• 17th Street, from Arch Street to Vine Street
• 18th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 19th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 20th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 21st Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
• 22nd Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 16th Street to 22nd Street
• Market Street, from 6th Street to 16th Street
• Chestnut Street, from 5th Street to 8th Street
• 6th Street, from Market Street to Chestnut Street
• 5th Street, from Chestnut Street to Race Street
• South Penn Square
• Juniper Street, from Chestnut Street to Market Street
• John F. Kennedy Boulevard, from Juniper Street to 17th Street
• 15th Street, from Race Street to Chestnut Street
• 16th Street, from Chestnut Street to Race Street
• Race Street, from 6th Street to Columbus Boulevard
• Columbus Boulevard (southbound lanes), from Vine Street to Washington Avenue
• Southbound off-ramp, from I-95 at Washington Avenue
• Washington Avenue, from Columbus Boulevard to Front Street
• Front Street, from Washington Avenue to South Street
• South Street, from Front Street to 7th Street
• 6th Street, from Bainbridge Street to Locust Street
• Lombard Street, from 5th Street to Broad Street
• 13th Street, from Bainbridge Street to Chestnut Street
• Walnut Street, from 12th Street to 34th Street
• 33rd Street, from Walnut Street to Spring Garden Street
• 34th Street, from Spring Garden Street to Girard Avenue
• Spring Garden Street, from 32nd Street to 34th Street
• Girard Avenue, 33rd Street to 38th Street
• 33rd Street, from Girard Avenue to Cecil B. Moore Avenue
• Reservoir Drive from 33rd to Diamond
• Mt. Pleasant Drive
• Fountain Green Drive
• Kelly Drive

Sunday, November 23

The Parkway (22nd Street to Eakins Oval) will be closed from 2 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday. Other streets along the race course will reopened as runners pass by and the streets are cleaned.

The following streets will be affected across the city on Sunday:

• 17th Street, from Arch Street to Vine Street
• 18th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 19th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 20th Street, from Arch Street to Callowhill Street
• 21st Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
• 22nd Street, from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 16th Street to 22nd Street
• Arch Street, between 3rd Street and 16th Street
• 4th Street, between Arch Street and Vine Streets
• Race Street, from 6th Street to Columbus Boulevard
• Columbus Boulevard (southbound lanes), from Vine Street to Washington Avenue
• Southbound off-ramp, from I-95 at Washington Avenue
• Washington Avenue, from Columbus Boulevard to Front Street
• Front Street, from Washington Avenue to South Street
• South Street, from Front Street to 7th Street
• 6th Street, from Bainbridge Street to Market Street
• Chestnut Street, from 6th Street to 23rd Street
• 22nd Street, from Locust Street to Market Street
• Walnut Street, from 21st Street to 34th Street
• 33rd Street, from Walnut Street to Chestnut Street
• Chestnut Street, from 33rd Street to 34th Street
• 34th Street, from Chestnut Street to Girard Avenue
• Lansdowne Drive, from Girard Avenue to South Concourse Drive
• South Concourse Drive, from Lansdowne to West Memorial Hall Drive
• East Memorial Hall Drive, from South Concourse to Avenue of the Republic
• Avenue of the Republic, from East Memorial Hall Drive to Catholic Fountain
• Belmont Avenue, Montgomery to Parkside Avenue
• States Drive to Lansdowne Drive
• Lansdowne Drive to Black Road
• Black Road
• Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
• Kelly Drive
• The Falls Bridge
• Ridge Avenue, from Schoolhouse Lane to Manayunk Avenue
• Main Street, from Ridge Avenue to Conarroe Street

All streets are scheduled to be reopened by 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24.

For information on SEPTA bus detours on Saturday and Sunday, go to septa.org.

For additional information, including course maps, schedules, and cheer zones, visit the official Philadelphia Marathon website.

EveryBody studio space at 4305 Locust St. (Photo by Sahar Coston-Hardy)

A new movement and wellness studio, EveryBody Movement and Wellness, is officially opening next week at 4305 Locust Street, a space across from CVS.

Starting Monday, Oct. 7, EveryBody Movement and Wellness will offer a wide range of small group movement classes including Pilates, suspension training, high-intensity interval training, yoga, kettlebells, Barre, dance, and more. People of all sizes, ages, genders, and abilities are welcome. In addition to group classes in the main studio space, there is also a private Pilates room and a wellness room that is being used for a variety of mind-body modalities (massage, reiki, therapy, etc). Some classes will be offered on a sliding scale.  Continue Reading

Kelly Pool in West Fairmount Park is opening this Wednesday.

Just in time for hot weather setting in, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is kicking off the 2019 pool season in the city. Over 70 outdoor city pools are open for recreation during the summer. Check with your neighborhood pool for days and times of open swim, family swim, adult swim, and swimming lessons. Please use this new online tool on the Parks & Rec website to find a pool near you.

We have also compiled information on what pools are opening this week in West, Southwest Philly and Center City West (stay tuned for updates).  Continue Reading