The 2017 Philadelphia Marathon will take place on Sunday, Nov. 19, and the half-marathon on Saturday, Nov. 18. Here’s some important information on road closures, bus detours, and cheer zones.

Marathon Races, Activities, Cheer Zones

Here you can find information on the marathon and here on the half-marathon. Other activities include the  Rothman 8K Run and Kids Fun Run on Saturday. And if you want to cheer on the runners, here’s information on the cheer zones.  Continue Reading

The 23rd annual Philadelphia Marathon activities will take place from November 18-20. The half marathon will take place on Saturday, Nov. 19 and the full marathon will be held on Sunday, Nov. 20. Here’s some important information for those who are planning to attend and those whose plans may be affected due to street closures.

Marathon Races, Activities, Cheer Zones

Here you can find information on weekend race activities, and information on the races is available here. Information for fans, including cheer zones, can be found here.

Street Closures

2016 Philadelphia Marathon Course Map (click to enlarge)

Streets will be closed in many parts of the city in connection with the marathon on the weekend of Nov. 18 – 20. Delays can be expected. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes, avoid areas along the race course, allow for extra driving time and proceed with caution during Race Weekend. Due to increased security in the Parkway area, parking and traffic regulations will be strictly enforced. Street closures will be enforced on a rolling basis as runners go by.

Some of the major areas impacted include:

• The Benjamin Franklin Parkway Friday, Nov. 18 through Sunday, Nov. 20

• Citywide along the 26.2-mile route of the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 20

• The I-676 off-ramps at 22nd Street (westbound) and 23rd Street (eastbound) will be closed on Saturday, Nov. 19 and Sunday, Nov. 20 after 4 a.m. for event security preparation. Ramps at 15th/Broad may also close, if needed.  Continue Reading

There’s a new sport on this side of the river and it’s catching on. The new West Philly Archery club has informally been created, thanks to Gabriel Nyantakyi. With about eight years of archery experience under his belt, he’s taught a couple of summer camps here and there and currently considers himself a hobbyist. He can be seen shooting at Kingsessing Park at 49th and Chester, but he wants to teach others how to participate in the sport as well. Which is why he started West Philly Archery.

When I asked Nyantakyi if he worried about shooting in a public space and if there were any safety issues, he said, “Safety is always a priority haven’t had any incidence in my eight years of teaching and shooting.”  Continue Reading

Photo via www.thepennrelays.com

The oldest annual track and field event in the nation, The Penn Relays, kicks off this week at Franklin Field (233 S. 33rd Street), and that means there will be a lot of additional traffic on the east end of Penn’s campus.

The 122nd edition of The Penn Relays starts Thursday and runs through Saturday. If you have the scratch, the events are worth attending (information on tickets is here). Some 15,000 athletes participate, some of whom you will likely see at this summer’s Olympic Games in Brazil.

Otherwise, it’s a part of town to avoid for a couple of days if you’re trying to get somewhere else. Expect heavy delays around the stadium all day Thursday through Saturday. On Saturday, 33rd Street from South Street to Walnut Street will be closed from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

If you make the trip to Franklin Field, here’s some info on what you can take in with you.

A community meeting is scheduled for Wednesday that could go a long way to determining the future of the upstart youth baseball league that has operated for the past two years at the 48th and Woodland Playground.

Local politicians and PAYSA organizers on last year’s opening day for the league (Photo from PAYSA Facebook page).

The Department of Parks and Recreation called the meeting following a request by the league, called the Philadelphia Athletics Youth Sports Association (PAYSA), to improve field conditions and begin work on a long-term master plan for the playground. The request reportedly triggered questions about whether the baseball league is “primarily run by and for members of the community served by the 48th & Woodland Playground,” PAYSA president and co-founder Steve Walicki wrote in a letter to league parents and supporters.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the 48th and Woodland Playground. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell is scheduled to be on hand, and community members who live in the area are invited. The organizers are requesting that those attending bring proof of residence, like a driver’s license with your local address on it.

Founded in 2013, PAYSA’s first opening day was in April 2014.

– Mike Lyons

The Fall season of the Clark Park Youth Soccer League (CPYSL) begins on Saturday, Oct. 3, and the popular volunteer-run program is still looking for coaches. You don’t need serious soccer skills or coaching experience in order to apply. The Fall season continues until November 23. It takes place on Saturdays at Clark Park (45th and Chester), with age groups 5-6 and 6-7 playing from 10:30 a.m. to Noon, and age groups 7-8 and 9-11 playing from Noon to 1:30 p.m. Volunteer coaches are asked to commit to being there most of the Saturdays through the season, but the program will try to have three or four coaches assigned to each team so that you will always have backup. Everyone who likes to play soccer and enjoys running around and having fun with kids is welcome to apply.  Continue Reading