With the school year wrapping up and summer officially on the horizon, one of Philadelphia’s most anticipated warm-weather traditions is finally getting underway. On Friday, June 12, Mayor Cherelle Parker and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation officials took the ceremonial “first jump” at Fairmount Park’s Kelly Pool to officially launch the city’s 2026 outdoor pool season.

This summer, the city is preparing to operate 63 public pools—four more than last year—opening them on a staggered, rolling basis between now and Monday, July 6.

For neighbors looking to stay cool close to home, here is what you need to know about West Philadelphia’s public pool openings, upgrades, and schedules this summer.

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City officials and community members gathered Friday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the $4.5 million revitalization of the West Mill Creek playground and plaza located at 5100 Parrish St.. Completed in just six months, the community-driven project transforms a historically neglected space into a safer, greener public hub just in time for summer.

Funded primarily through the City’s Rebuild initiative (supported by the Philadelphia Beverage Tax), the project also received a $600,000 state grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Local Share Account program and a $500,000 contribution from 3rd District Councilmember Jamie Gauthier. Continue Reading

Unofficial returns from Tuesday’s primary election are in, including ward and division data from the Philadelphia City Commissioners, and they shows a distinct pattern in how West and Southwest Philadelphia residents cast their ballots. Turnout followed typical primary trends, hovering around 21 percent citywide, but votes highlight a divide between progressive grassroots strongholds and traditional institutional bases.

Here is the breakdown of how West and Southwest Philly voted across the major contests:

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Voters across the city are heading to the polls on May 19 for the Pennsylvania primary election. Only registered Democrats and Republicans can cast ballots for their respective party’s nominees. However, these choices will set the stage for crucial matchups in the November general election.

Here are the key candidates that West Philly voters are watching closely on the ballot:

The 3rd Congressional District race

Because the 3rd District spans all of West and Southwest Philadelphia, the primary to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans is the most consequential race on the ballot. Since this is one of the most heavily Democratic districts in the country, the winner of this primary is virtually guaranteed the seat in November.

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University of Pennsylvania students are scheduled to move out of their dormitories this Tuesday, May 12, and Wednesday, May 13. To facilitate the move-out process, Spruce Street will be closed to all vehicular traffic and bicycles between 34th and 40th Streets from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days.

SEPTA buses operating in this area will be on detour during the closure hours. Visit septa.org for more details.

Access to the Ryan Veterinary Hospital will remain available via the intersections at 38th and 40th Streets.

Motorists should expect delays in the area.

A major effort is underway to save nearly 1,000 affordable rental units in West and Southwest Philadelphia from being sold to for-profit developers.

The properties are owned by Neighborhood Restorations, which manages 925 units integrated into residential blocks across the Haddington, Mantua, Cobbs Creek, and Kingsessing neighborhoods. In July 2025, the company issued a notice of intent to sell — a move that could displace thousands as early as this July, according to a WHYY News report.

The potential sale poses a dual threat to the neighborhood’s stability: mass displacement and rising costs. The Stoneleigh Foundation estimates that at least 3,000 residents are at risk if these units convert to market-rate housing. A Reinvestment Fund study previously noted that this “scattered-site” model has been vital for neighborhood revitalization; losing them could drive up rents across the entire area.

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