Walnut Hill Community Playground (Archived photo/Selah Lynch).

Here’s some great news for Walnut Hill Community Playground users. The public playground, located at 47th and Sansom, will be rehabilitated thanks to a $75,000 grant from the Target Foundation, according to a recent announcement by University City District (UCD). The funds, secured through UCD’s new Community Playground Revitalization Program, will be used by members of UCD’s Green City Works landscaping social enterprise to perform general improvements to the playground.

Improvements to the park, which dates back to the 1970s, with the current version built in 2009, will be made based on community feedback. The goal is to “make it safer and more welcoming for neighbors and other users,” according to the announcement.

The playground is dedicated to Alice Jones, a community leader who dedicated her life to her neighborhood. Her grandson, Shuja Moore, who is determined to carry on her legacy of positive community change, has been instrumental in spearheading the idea to revitalize the playground.

More details on this project are coming soon.

The Clean Air Council launched the Cobbs Creek Watershed Community Mini-grant program earlier this month to support community organizations focused on education, recreation, and stewardship inside of Cobbs Creek Park and Watershed.

With funding support from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and US Fish and Wildlife Service the Council is offering $1,000 and $2,000 dollar grants for civic groups, educators, and organizations to grow or offer new programming and activities that increase community engagement in the watershed. Activities can include but are not limited to learning opportunities, events, stewardship, workshops, and beautification efforts. Expenses could include project materials and supplies, event costs, promotional costs, stipends, staff time, or other needs.

The mini-grant application period is now open and closes Wednesday, July 31 at 11:59 p.m.

For more details and to submit your application online, use this Google form. You can also email the completed questions in the RFP to cobbscreek@cleanair.org

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (center) celebrating the reopening of the upgraded 48th and Woodland sprayground with local families. (Photo by Wendi Wu)

Here’s some great news for West Philly and Southwest Philly youth and their families who have been battling the heat. The 48th & Woodland sprayground has reopened after some new renovations and upgrades. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Tuesday.

The playground site at 48th and Woodland was updated with new water play equipment that is tied to the theme of learning. One of the main goals of this renovation project was to create a sprayground where children can combine learning and fun. Other new amenities include a shade structure and new seating (see more photos below).

The project was a $700,000 investment by the City in this important local community space.

Continue Reading

Great news for Malcolm X Memorial Park and local community advocates! The 188th District was recently awarded a state grant of over $76,000 which will be used to bring important improvements to the park. The grant will be used to repair the park gazebo, bathrooms and lighting. State Rep. Rick Krajewski, whose office worked on securing the grant, posted the following message on social media:

“If we want to fight for our young people and build a real sense of public safety for all, we need to make more investments like this one. Congrats to the Friends of Malcolm X Park! This will make a big difference for the 188th.”

Friends of Malcolm X Park is a volunteer-run group who organizes various events and activities at the park, including regular cleanups, and advocates for new resources. In recent years, the park has been home to such events as community/health fairs, outdoor theater shows by Theatre in the X, Juneteenth Festival, outdoor film screenings, and many recreational activities.

The City’s annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program, which provides residents with an environmentally friendly alternative for the disposal of live trees, has kicked off today and will run through Saturday, Jan. 13. Residents of West and Southwest Philadelphia who wish to drop off their trees to be recycled may take them to the Sanitation Convenience Centers listed below open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday:

• 3033 S. 63rd Street

• 5100 Grays Avenue

Residents may also drop their trees off at 13 designated locations on Saturdays, Jan. 6 and Jan. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The two locations in West Philly are:

• 54th St. and Woodbine Ave.

• 43rd St. and Powelton Ave.

Continue Reading

Residents of the neighborhoods surrounding West Fairmount Park have a chance to help shape the future of the park and the Centennial District. Philadelphia Parks and Recreation is currently working with the Fairmount Park Conservancy, The Mann Center, Philadelphia Zoo, and the Please Touch Museum on a new planning initiative which includes improvements of the park experience for visitors and residents.

A “community-led framework for how to be more inclusive and fair in future park investments”  used in the planning process.

As the plan affects communities it needs to be developed with communities. Therefore, The Centennial Subdistrict Design Plan team is looking for paid Community Ambassadors to be a part of the process.

Continue Reading