One of the busiest commercial corridors in West Philadelphia is finally getting much-needed traffic calming and other improvements. The 52nd Street Commercial Corridor Improvement Project, which will be conducted on the portion of the street between Arch and Pine, aims to make the corridor “safer, cleaner and greener” for all.

Traffic calming measures may include the construction of curb extensions, medians, and raised crosswalks. The project also includes improved curbside parking and loading to prevent illegal and double parking.

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The future site of the Philly Phlush public restroom in Clark Park, just east of the basketball court (Photo by West Phill Local).

So long Clark Park porta potties, bring on the Philly Phlush.

Construction is set to begin this week in Clark Park on the city’s latest “Philly Phlush” – the permanent public restroom – the Friends of Clark Park announced on Saturday.

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Here’s some information on the annual Spruce Street closures that help accommodate Penn students moving to campus after the summer break. This year, a portion of the street will be closed to all vehicles, including bicycles, on select days between Monday, Aug. 18 and Sunday, Aug. 23, for student move-in and some construction projects, according to the University of Pennsylvania Division of Public Safety. Here are more details:

August 18, 19, and 20:

• Spruce Street will be closed from 34th to 38th Street between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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The West Philly-based Black theatre company, Theatre in the X, is returning to Malcolm X Park with its summer production of Fraternity, a thought-provoking drama by acclaimed playwright Jeff Stetson.

With performances running August 21 – 24, Fraternity brings together a dynamic cast featuring titans of Philadelphia stage and screen, including Brian Anthony Wilson, and rising young talent. The show examines urgent questions about power, legacy, and what it means to be a Black man in America.

“At a time when divisions seem sharper than ever, Fraternity challenges us to confront the tensions within our own communities — and to imagine what real unity might require,” said director and Theatre in the X leader Eric Carter. “Theatre in the X is proud to bring this urgent, thought-provoking work to life in the heart of West Philly, where Black stories deserve to be seen, heard, and wrestled with in public space.”
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47th Street near Pine on Wednesday, Aug. 13.

UPDATE (8/14/25): A portion of 47th Street has been converted to a one-way street and vehicles now travel north only between Chestnut St. and Baltimore Ave. The one-way portion of the street has one lane of traffic with parking lanes on both sides and a southbound bike lane on the left side, separated by the parking lane. Work will continue in the next several days to convert the remaining portion of the street between Baltimore Ave. and Kingsessing Ave.

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There are some exciting updates regarding the “Clark Park Plan,” which provides an outline for park development and investments. Approved by the city in 2023, the plan includes improvements such as new multi-age playgrounds, a multi-height basketball hoop, a permanent bathroom, an outdoor workout area, new walkways, and more.

On Saturday, Aug. 16 from 2-3 p.m., the Friends of Clark Park will be hosting a celebration where community members can learn more about upcoming improvements at the park and kick off the playground design process. There will be multiple speakers, including Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, State Rep. Rick Krajewski, Mayor Cherelle Parker (or a representative), a representative from Parks and Recreation, and Friends of Clark Park president Ben Sirolly.

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