Dogs and dog lovers gathered yesterday in Clark Park for the annual “Bark in the Park.” There were contests for everything from tallest dog to curliest tail to fastest runner. A good time was had by all. See the photos below.

Studio 34 (4522 Baltimore Ave.) is presenting a new yoga class series for children ages 4-12 beginning Oct. 17. Led by instructor Lily Cavanagh the six-week series will feature breathing exercises, games, poses and relaxation. Younger kids will also be introduced to communication skills in a fun-filled environment. Older kids will learn how to maintain balance in both their minds and bodies and how to boost their self-esteem through engaging in group and partner activities.

Classes are once a week, on Mondays, 3:45-4:30 (ages 4-6) and 4:45-5:30 (ages 7-12). The six-week series costs $60 and there will be a free trial class on Monday, Oct. 10. For more information and to enroll go here.

We just got word that youth soccer at Clark Park is cancelled this week. Recent rains have left too much water in the Bowl. Soccer will resume next Saturday if things dry out a little.

The Walnut West Library Chess Club is in need of volunteer coaches to assist in conducting a weekly class and acting as mentors to the young student players. You do not need to be a Master player, but knowledge of the game would be very helpful.

The club is going into its fourth year and has experienced rapid growth and recognition at the city-wide tournaments held every month of the school year. It is a very rewarding experience for the right person. The club meets on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the library, 201 S. 40th Street.

To apply or for more information, contact Joe Clarke at: philly.joe.c [at] gmail.com

Penn Park, the rejuvenated 24-acre strip of land along the train tracks between Walnut and South streets, officially opens on Thursday.

The park occupies former parking lots and vacant land in a once fairly desolate area that was a parking area for postal trucks. It is now part of the University of Pennsylvania campus.

So what can your typical West Philly resident get out of the new park? Some of its facilities will be open to the public on a regular basis. Those include about two acres of grassy open areas, including a “picnic grove,” with a good view of the Center City skyline in and around newly constructed athletic facilities. The area also includes 548 new trees.

“Penn Park marks the first time that the University has, by design, developed open space for the use of the Penn community and beyond,” said Penn President Amy Gutmann.

Those athletics facilities include a spiffy 12-court tennis center, a 470-seat multi-purpose stadium and two athletic fields with synthetic surfaces. A parking lot for 210 cars sits along Walnut Street near the Class of 1923 Ice Rink. In case you had any notion of getting your Nadal on and playing tennis on those new courts (we did), Penn has said that they will only be open to the public on special occasions.

Still, the park provides a nice place to relax, enjoy the skyline and maybe take in a field hockey game.

The park is accessible by Walnut Street to the north, a walkway near the picnic grove to the west and another entrance near the South Street bridge. Here is a map of the park: Penn Park map

The park cost $46 million, but not a dime of public money went into it, according to Penn officials.

Tomorrow’s ceremony begins at 5 p.m. and will include a ribbon-cutting, recreational activities and a fireworks display at 7:30 p.m.

West Philly’s newest bike shop, a branch of the Glenside-based Keswick Cycle, opened this weekend just in time for the return of students to the area. The shop occupies about half of the first floor in the building that formerly housed the Strikes Bowling Lounge at 4040 Locust St. Workers were still moving in bikes and other merchandise Saturday afternoon, but customers were invited in to have a look around.