Community members have a chance to learn more about an exciting project in Kingsessing. On Tuesday, Sept. 20, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., there will be the final design meeting for the Kingsessing Library, which will be rebuilt as part of the City’s Rebuild project. The project is expected to break ground soon and the library will be temporarily closed during construction, beginning this fall.

During the Open House-style meeting, which will be held outdoors on the tennis courts (entrance by the corner of 51 St. and Chester Ave.), guests can view the final design plans for the library and learn about what to expect in the next few months. Community members can stop by any time during the meeting to view final design renderings and informational boards. Brief remarks on the project will be provided at 5:30 p.m. Continue Reading

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

Drexel Square

This summer, Drexel Square, a 1.3-acre community park that opened near 30th Street Station in 2019 as part of the Schuylkill Yards development project, is hosting a wide variety of free activities, open to the community. “Summer at the Square” series events range from free fitness classes, live music, meditation, art classes, food trucks and pop-ups, and more.

See the full list of happenings at Drexel Square here: https://schuylkillyards.com/whats-happening.

Schuylkill Yards is a $3.5 billion project, a partnership between Drexel University and Brandywine Trust, which will include eight high rises connected by green public spaces and retail when completed. More info is available here.

Kelly Pool is opening June 23 (Facebook photo).

The Philadelphia Department of Parks & Rec has released a schedule for the start of the 2022 public outdoor pool season. This year, the city will open 50 out of 63 operating outdoor pools, 10 more than last summer. It has been reported that Philadelphia is experiencing a lifeguard shortage. Pools will begin opening tomorrow, June 21.

Here’s the schedule for West Philly pools and O’Connor pool in Center City West:

Tuesday, June 21

• Mill Creek (743 N. 48th St., 19139) Continue Reading

With hot weather starting to set in in the area, Philadelphia Parks & Rec has opened spraygrounds around the city ahead of the summer public pool season which kicks off in mid- to late-June. The city has over 90 spraygrounds and sites with some water features, all of which are now open to keep residents cool, according to the Parks & Rec website.

Spraygrounds will stay open until Labor Day and will operate 7 days a week (with exceptions for inclement weather) with the following hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 12-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Here is the list of spraygrounds operating in West Philadelphia (for more locations, visit this page): Continue Reading

Photo by Joseph O’Connor

With less than three months remaining until the opening of the 2022 pool season remaining, dozens of folks in West Philadelphia can secure a great summer job. Each summer, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation trains and hires 400+ lifeguards to safely staff the City’s free public pools. The City is now actively recruiting at pools across Philadelphia, and is looking to hire 57 lifeguards from West Philly to make sure pools like Kingsessing and Tustin are ready for a summer of fun.

Parks & Rec operates dozens of outdoor pools each summer, which open from mid-to-late June through mid-to-late August.

Lifeguards typically work 35 hours per week and the position pays a competitive wage of $15.25 to $17.24 an hour. Free training and swim lessons are available to anyone interested in building the skills to get certified to work as a lifeguard this summer. Red Cross certification classes are free for anyone ages 16-24 who commit to working at a City pool. The Red Cross lifeguard certification course fee is $110 for all other candidates. Continue Reading