Philadelphia outdoor public pools have started reopening for the summer. Pool hours vary based on available staffing, but all open pools offer public swim from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. daily, according to the Philadelphia Parks & Rec. Additional public swim hours vary by site.

Here’s the opening schedule for West Philadelphia based pools. More pools are expected to open in the following few weeks. We’ll update this list when we have more information. This week’s full opening schedule is available here. Also, check with your neighborhood pool for more information here.

Week of July 1

Tuesday, July 2

• Tustin Pool – 5901-29 W. Columbia Ave., 19151.

Week of June 24

Thursday, June 27

• Butch Ellis Pool (39th & Olive) – 700 N. 39th St., 19104
• Lee Pool – 4328 Haverford Ave., 19104

Week of June 17

Tuesday, June 18

• Christy Pool – 728 S. 55th St., 19143

Friday, June 21

• Shepard Pool – 5700 Haverford Ave., 19131

Note: Kelly Pool (4231 Lansdowne Dr.) was expected to reopen on Monday but experienced a technical issue. It is now expected to open later in the week of June 17.

After a break, a popular recreation program for kids, the Clark Park Youth Soccer League, is returning this spring. The program, run by the Friends of Clark Park, kicks off April 20 in the Clark Park “Bowl” and children in Kindergarten – 5th Grade are welcome to join. Sessions will be held every Saturday morning through June 8.

A pre-K clinic for kids ages 4-5 will also be held this spring with sessions scheduled for every other Saturday.

Registration is open now through April 10.

Registration fee for this program is $20 for one child and $10 for each additional child in the same family. Non-member families are also required to pay a Friends of Clark Park membership fee, starting at $25 for families registering one child. Financial “Soccership” assistance is available.

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Photos by Tony West

One hundred Philadelphia young chess players packed the St. Joseph’s University Athletic Recreation Center at 45th St. and Woodland Ave. this weekend, Jan. 27-28, seeking mates  – lots of them  – but all above board. A chess board, to be precise.

The 16th annual PECO/ASAP Checkmate Violence Chess Marathon drew youths K-12 for two full days of competition and awards. Rated players tested themselves through five long rounds over both days; non-rated players tackled five shorter rounds on Saturday. Coaches and parents from some of ASAP’s 150 chess clubs (one of the largest lineups in the country) came along for pregame prep work but once the tournament began all adults were shooed out.

ASAP presented a STEM Fair featuring organizations throughout Philadelphia that provide after school and summer opportunities in STEM.

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Here’s some exciting news for many local residents in West and Southwest Philadelphia. Rebuild Philadelphia, the City program that invests hundreds of millions of dollars in improving public spaces and community facilities, is expected to break ground on renovation projects at three recreation centers with over $60 million in investments. Public groundbreakings with the participation of local officials and community members, are scheduled to take place from Sept. 19-22 at Kingsessing Recreation Center, F.J. Myers Recreation Center, and Johnny Sample (Cobbs Creek) Recreation Center.

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Instagram photo (@myphillypark).

If you like to stay active, meet new people, and have fun outdoors, this great program by the Fairmount Park Conservancy may be something you need. We Walk PHL is a free walking group that meets several times per week at various public parks. Currently, all are invited to join the group during the upcoming Fall season.

Walks begin on September 1st. Locations in West and Southwest Philly include: Carroll Park, Clark Park, Cobbs Creek Park, Malcolm X Park, Tustin Playground, Bartram’s Garden, and more. Please check the image below for additional locations and walk schedules.

We Walk PHL, which launched as a pilot program in 2017, seeks to “promote positive health outcomes, increase use of Philadelphia’s park system, and create opportunities for people to pursue fitness goals while meeting their neighbors.” It is a partnership between Fairmount Park Conservancy, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (Get Healthy Philly), and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.

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The Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation is hosting dozens of summer camp programs for children ages 6 to 12 across the city this summer. The office of Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District) has compiled a list of camps located at West Philly rec centers and playgrounds. These day camps offer a variety of activities, including arts & crafts, sports, educational activities, games, field trips, and more.

Parents and guardians are invited to contact the camp sites in their area directly. Please note that fees vary by site and scholarships are available upon request.

See the flyer below with the list of West Philly Parks & Rec camp sites and their contact details. Also, check out our Summer Camps listings here if you’re still looking for a camp for your child.

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