West Philadelphia: A Slice of Japan in Fairmount Park
Shofuso Japanese House and Garden is getting ready for a partial roof replacement later this summer. While most might find this subject to be of no interest, there is actually a unique story behind it. The roof on the home is made out of hinoki bark. “Hinoki roofs are a pretty rare thing to find […]
West Philadelphia: A Place to Learn About Japanese Culture
Derek Finn is the associate director of Shofuso Japanese House and Garden. He started at Shofuso in 2010 after earning his bachelor’s degree in East Asian studies from the University of Pennsylvania. His passion for Japanese culture kept him at Shofuso, where he started as a visitor service assistant and worked his way up to […]
South Philadelphia: Barry Playground’s Renovation From Public Funding Is Paying Dividends
If you build it, they will come. Recreation centers and urban parks serve as places for people in the busy city lifestyles to escape it all without really having to leave the city limits. From leisure to exercise, people of all ages use these resources. “An interesting trend that I’ve noticed is the more people […]
Manayunk: Along the Schuylkill River, Kay Sykora Always Finds A Way
Just off of Main Street, the section of Lock Street stretching onto Venice Island bears a sign, which dubs it as “Kay Sykora Way.” Jane Lipton, executive director of Manayunk Development Corporation, petitioned to have the section renamed in Sykora’s honor, and said the word “way” holds a special significance. “It was really appropriate. She […]
Newbold: Residents Fear Lack Of Parking Due To Green Space Development
In 2011, The Philadelphia Water Department set off on a 25-year initiative known as “Green City, Clean Waters.” The plan was straightforward in theory – reduce stormwater pollution entering Philadelphia’s sewer system through the use of green infrastructure. Green City, Clean Waters is the largest investment in green infrastructure in the country but by utilizing green […]
Hartranft: The 12th and Cambria Recreation Center is Rebuilding the Neighborhood
With Mayor Michael Nutter proposing a $500,000 increase to the Parks and Recreation budget, the Parks Alliance still feels that more funding is necessary to effectively run an enjoyable, safe environment for the communities of Philadelphia. While some recreation centers and communities have suffered, and some continue to suffer with programs being cut and pools […]
Hawthorne: Recreation Leader Emphasizes Ethnic Dance At Cultural Center
The calendar reads September, and for several recreation workers in South Philly, vacation has finally arrived. The summer camps have been completed and the next wave of children is still a few weeks away. As a recreation leader for the Hawthorne Cultural Center at 1200 Carpenter Street, Carmen Butler’s work never ends. She has managed […]
Parkside: Philly Pumptrack Changing Philadelphia’s Youth Cycling Culture One Ride At A Time
Ahmad Elam was like most other 13-year-old boys in his Parkside neighborhood a few months ago. “When I was at home with my friends and we were bored and didn’t have nothing to do,” said Elam. “So one day, we came here and started riding.” Here is the Philly Pumptrack. A pumptrack is a bike […]
Rhawnhurst: Danger and Disease in Pennypack Creek
More than a dozen men, arms linked, spanned the Pennypack Creek. They trudged through the murky water looking for the body of a Father Judge High School student. The boy, Nicky Simonetti, 14, went missing two days earlier after he dove into the creek to save a friend, who had fallen over the waterfall created […]
Chestnut Hill: Maple Sugar Day
Philadelphia Parks and Recreation recently held Maple Sugar Day, presented by the Wissahickon Environmental Center. The annual free event was open to all curious about the process of sugar making or just hungry for free pancakes. “We usually do it the last week in February, luckily the weather turned out beautiful. We were a little […]