Volunteers at work at the site of the Johnny Sample (Cobbs Creek) Recreation Center, which is undergoing renovation.

City officials, community organizations, and residents gathered Friday at Johnny Sample (Cobbs Creek) Recreation Center in West Philadelphia for a Community Planting Day, which included a preview of the nearly completed $15 million facility renovation before its official opening in the fall. The event brought together Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, Fairmount Park Conservancy, Rebuild Philadelphia, and community volunteers to plant 2,000 native species and enhance green spaces on the grounds of the recreation center.

Led by Fairmount Park Conservancy, volunteers added native plants to the renovated recreation center’s landscape. More greenery and connection between the recreation center and the park’s natural environment were key priorities identified during the project’s community engagement phase.

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Saint Joseph’s University announced today that it has reached an agreement to sell its buildings south of Woodland Avenue to the Belmont Neighborhood Educational Alliance for an undisclosed sum.

“Potential plans for the space include a new affordable teachers college, which may help alleviate Philadelphia’s chronic shortage of well-qualified and experienced teachers, as well as a potential new school emphasizing public service and leadership,” a university statement emailed to university faculty and staff this morning read.

Property developer Michael Karp is the chair of Belmont Neighborhood Educational Alliance’s board of directors. The non-profit runs a charter school network in West Philadelphia and Center City.

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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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Starting Sunday, Sept. 14, SEPTA will restore full service, including the 20 percent Bus and Metro cuts implemented on Aug. 24, according to an announcement. But SEPTA will also reinstate the 20 percent system-wide fare increase, which was put on hold earlier this month. New schedule and service information will be posted on SEPTA’s website at septa.org.

SEPTA’s service will be restored for the next two years thanks to $394 million state capital assistance from The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), which was approved yesterday after SEPTA’s request. Thanks to this funding and the additional revenue from the fare increase, SEPTA is planning to implement its new bus network and support the major events coming to Philadelphia in 2026.

“This is not the long-term funding solution we need to address our $213 million budget deficit,” SEPTA General Manager Scott A. Sauer said in a statement. “But over the last two weeks, we have seen the devastating effects of the service cuts on our customers. Our riders deserve better, and they deserve stability.”

Mural Arts Philadelphia, in partnership with the Office of Council Member Curtis Jones, Jr., has unveiled a new mural, titled Legacy of Leadership, at 110 N. 63rd Street, just north of Market. The huge mural, which is visible from 63rd Street, is designed by prominent Philadelphia-based artist Gabe Tiberino and dedicated to the “Fathers of West Philadelphia.” It features portraits of men who have made a lasting impact on the community – community organizers, public servants, and leaders:

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