The 2022-2023 school year has begun today for tens of thousands of Philadelphia children and youth with the School District of Philadelphia welcoming students back into school buildings. For parents and guardians seeking free or low-cost afterschool or recreational activities for their kids, check out these two programs below.

LEAP at the Free Library of Philadelphia

The Free Library’s Literacy Enrichment Afterschool Program (LEAP) returns for a new school year at all libraries throughout the city with a playful learning focus for younger students and a focus on literacy and 21st century skills for all ages. LEAP is currently scheduled to be offered Monday through Friday at every library as staffing and operating hours allow.

The Library’s LEAP Out-of-School-Time Programming will offer Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) activities, literacy activities, slime making, and more. LEAP will offer homework assistance in-person during Library hours and live tutoring through Homework Help Online from 10:00 a.m. to midnight, 7 days a week. Continue Reading

The developers of 4601 Market St., which includes the stately, gold-cupolaed Provident building, are reportedly moving ahead with plans to build six apartment buildings, including an 18-story tower, on the site.

Executives with Iron Stone Real Estate Partners, which purchased the property in 2019, told The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jake Blumgart that the firm is moving ahead with plans to add 1,240 apartments on the site, which stretches west along Market Street from 46th to 48th Streets and north along 46th Street to Haverford Avenue.

The property is zoned CMX-3, a mixed-use designation that means the residential buildings will likely be constructed “by right” with little required community input on things like the inclusion of affordable housing. Continue Reading

Students at the Morton McMichael School, a K-8 public school located on Fairmount Avenue in the Mantua neighborhood, will have a brand new playground when the 2022-2023 school year begins next week, as the result of a joint effort by the School, Drexel University, and the Mantua Civic Association.

The new 12,000-square foot recreation space officially opened yesterday. It was the culmination of more than a decade of planning, fundraising and execution.

“This playground is a splendid example of what we can accomplish by working together as a community,” Drexel President John Fry said at the opening ceremony. Continue Reading

SEPTA is preparing to introduce new technology that will allow riders to pay for trips with their smart phones, according to reports. The mobile ticket program is expected to launch by October, and will be available on all modes of transit except Regional Rail.

Only Android and iPhone users will be able to use this new feature and those who have a SEPTA Key account. One of the advantages of the new technology is that “multi-tapping” will be allowed, which means rides for other people (up to five) can be purchased on a single SEPTA Key account, something SEPTA Key cards are not devised to do.

The initial testing phase of the new technology took place in May and mostly included SEPTA employees. The second testing phase is expected to launch next month and SEPTA is seeking users not as familiar with the program. If you have one of the phones mentioned above and a SEPTA Key account and would like to participate in the pilot, fill out this online form.

Regional Rail users will have to wait until at least Spring 2023 to use mobile tickets. For more info, check out this article by Billy Penn.

Photo by Ryan Collerd

Since the beginning of the month, construction crews have worked on the restoration of high-need sections of paved roadways at The Woodlands cemetery. To commemorate the completion of this work, The Woodlands is holding a celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 23 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the front gates of the cemetery at 40th and Woodland (see more info below).

The roads were restored thanks to a $99,500 grant awarded to the historic Woodlands grounds to help with infrastructure improvements. State Representative Rick Krajewski worked with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to secure the grant. Continue Reading

University of Pennsylvania students will be moving into their dorms throughout next week, which means portions of Spruce Street will be closed during the day to accommodate them. Street closures will begin on Monday, Aug. 22 and continue through Sunday, Aug. 28 with no closures on Thursday, Aug. 25. Here are more details:

• Spruce Street between 34th and 38th Streets will be closed to traffic from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 22; Tuesday, Aug. 23; and Wednesday, Aug. 24.

Spruce Street between 38th and 40th Streets will be closed to traffic from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26; Saturday, Aug. 27; and Sunday, Aug. 28.

All vehicular traffic, including bicycles, will not be permitted on the closed sections of Spruce Street. Buses will be on detour (please check septa.org for more details).