Here’s some exciting news and events at Clark Park, one of West Philly’s most beloved community spaces.

The installation of the permanent public restroom, Philly Phlush, which began in August, is complete (see photo). The installation of this modular ADA-accessible bathroom was part of the Friends of Clark Park fundraising campaign and was included in the current Clark Park Plan, the outline for park development and investments approved by the city in 2023. A grand opening for Clark Park’s Philly Phlush is expected to be announced soon, pending an L & I inspection, which may take a couple of weeks. UPDATE (10/29/25): Clark Park’s Philly Phlush officially opened on Monday, Oct. 27. Check out this Instagram post.

One of the ways to support Clark Park and the Friends of Clark Park projects is to participate in Parktoberfest. The family-friendly event will take place this Saturday, Oct. 18, from 2-8 p.m. at 43rd and Baltimore and will include music from local bands, food, craft beers from neighborhood breweries, and a silent auction. $5 suggested donation at the event helps support park programs and upkeep. Friends of Clark Park members (21+) get a free beer. If you can’t make it to this event please consider making a donation on the Friends of Clark Park website. For more details about this event, follow the Friends of Clark Park on Instagram.

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Photo by Rebecca Gudelunas Photography

Just in time for the spooky season, Curio Theatre Company is kicking off its 21st season in West Philadelphia with a “Bram-new” production. From October 15 through November 1, the theatre company located at 48th and Baltimore will present “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors.” The new show is a 90-minute, gender-bending, quick-changing, laugh-out-loud reimagining of the timeless gothic classic.

The show is filled with clever wordplay and unexpected pop culture references and features.

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Halloween in West Philly (Photo by West Philly Local)

The spooky season is here and here’s a great new community resource, created by a local Halloween enthusiast, that will help folks submit and find events.

Dyresha Harris, has created a free West Philly Fright Registry, a Google form where community members from approximately 45th to 60th Streets and Market to Baltimore (it’s not a hard boundary) can register their house or public space to let folks know what spooky thing they’ll be up to during the Halloween season (from giving out candy, to decorations, to events). The resulting Google map would help families and other Halloween revelers know where to go on and leading up to the holiday.

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Come celebrate new and old friends at the uCity Square community block party on Friday, Sept. 26, 2-8 p.m. at 37th and Cuthbert! Featuring local food, live music & comedy (see the line up below), games, and activities for the whole family. Free chair massages and a sound bath experience for the ultimate self-care.

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Philly Bike Action, the non-profit organization advocating for safer bike lanes in the city, is planning a group ride through the neighborhood to celebrate the new protected bike lane on South 47th Street, according to the group’s announcement. The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 13. Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who worked on the 47th Street redesign project with community members and organizations, is expected to participate in the event as well.

The ride is expected to begin at 9:20 a.m. at Clark Park (gathering starts at 9:00) and the approximately 4-mile long route will include the 47th, 48th, Walnut and Chestnut bike lanes. If you want to join in, RSVP here.

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This Saturday, Sept. 13, the Painted Bride Art Center is hosting a celebratory community event, Relish & Remember, at the Paul Robeson House (4949 Walnut St). The event, which will be held from 3-5 p.m., is honoring the foodways of 52nd Street and the people who have shaped them.

“Most would agree that food and memory are inseparable. Unique tastes, smells, and textures can transport us back through time, returning us to kitchens, corner tables, and community gatherings where laughter and stories were shared,” reads the event description.

The event, led by Painted Bride’s Voices of 52nd Street project director Pamela Hooks, features a Memory Potluck with dishes from local restaurants and community cooks, wine and cheese tastings, live poetry, and more.

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