The Wynnefield Library now has an outdoor learning and playing space (see more photos below).

Another West Philly public library has been renovated thanks to the city’s Rebuild program, which invests millions of dollars in neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and libraries across Philadelphia.

Community members and officials gathered Wednesday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate a grand reopening of the Wynnefield Library after a $700,000 renovation. The library, which serves the communities of Wynnefield and Overbook Farms, received a complete renovation of the exterior courtyard, transforming the space with new landscaping and hardscaping, a refreshed exterior wall, cameras and lighting, ADA upgrades, and more. This project was part of ongoing improvements to the library, totaling $1.4 million, that included roof repairs completed in 2019.

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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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Photo by Berri Wilmore for UCD

Here’s a great chance to participate in a vital neighborhood improvement project. Phase 2 of the Walnut Hill Playground renovation project has kicked off and help from community members is necessary to make this part of the project a success.

Phase I included installing a new retaining wall with seating, and now it is time to install plants in the garden bed, so that next spring the space is alive with color and texture. A volunteer day for this project has been scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 4 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 47th and Sansom where the playground is located. University City District (UCD), which is leading this project along with community partners, will provide the plants, tools and instructions.

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This week, Work to Ride announced the opening of the McCausland Arena, a brand-new equestrian facility in West Fairmount Park designed to expand the access to equestrian sports for urban youth.

The 45,000-square-foot indoor arena features expanded pastures that have increased in size from 3.5 to 5.5 acres and updated learning areas where the Work to Ride program will continue to host lessons, clinics, and tournaments. The new facility allows Work to Ride to expand community programming while creating year-round opportunities for participants to advance their skills, connect with peers, and experience the lifelong benefits of equestrian sports.

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Photo courtesy of Aunt Flow.

The City of Philadelphia is partnering with period product company Aunt Flow to launch Phlow Philly, a citywide initiative which provides access to free period products in schools, public spaces, and neighborhoods.

This week, more than 200 free-vend dispensers have been installed across city libraries, recreation centers, and schools. In addition, 4,500 period kits, which is equivalent to 90,000 organic cotton pads, are being distributed through trusted community organizations at “Period Party” events as part of this initiative.

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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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