Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse

Winter Closure + Stay Connected!

Dear Smith Families, Friends, and Supporters:

Thank you for your belief in and support of Smith! While are not offering free visiting hours during the Winter season, there are many ways that you can continue playful learning with us:

Winter Closure

December 2020 through March 2021*

*birthday parties and school groups may still reserve private visits

Play is Not Cancelled!

In spite of the many challenges we faced in 2020, Smith has not wavered from our dedication to supporting families and promoting the social, emotional, cognitive and physical development of children. After developing new digital programming last Spring during the state-wide stay-at-home orders and reopening to the public with increased cleaning and visitor screening procedures on June 16th (all carried out by our small, but mighty staff of 6 full-time employees!), we now have had to make some tough decisions going into the colder months that will allow for overall staff wellness and budget relief.

Below are ways you can continue to stay engaged with us during the cold weather months. We look forward to reopening the Playground and the renovated Playhouse in March of 2021!

Virtual Programs

Smith has a new Mobile App and television program called Smith Play Jawn that engages children in playful learning activities that can be done with everyday materials at home!

Community Programs

Smith will continue its Everyday Literacy and Slide Into Success community and teacher training programs as well as Teen Elect parenting workshops for pregnant teens and school partnerships. Contact us about using Smith as an outdoor classroom!

Playhouse and Urban Nature Preschool to Open Spring 2021

Playhouse renovations are expected to be completed by the end of December and we plan to reopen the Playhouse to visitors as soon as deemed appropriate under the prevailing COIVD-19 guidelines. Smith’s new Urban Nature Preschool will open in Fall 2021 with enrollment details available in early 2021. Learn More

We deeply value our relationship with our visitors, members, and supporters and will continue to keep you abreast of developments that occur as we respond to the impact of the global pandemic. Please consider making a donation to our non-profit organization to help us continue our 121-year legacy of being a free resource for children to play, learn, and heal together.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at your convenience.

Frances Hoover
Executive Director

Download Smith’s New Mobile App!

Smith is excited to announce that we have a new mobile app featuring a variety of ways to engage children in playful learning and to support our nonprofit organization.

PLAY

Check in at Smith, earn points and rewards during your visit, and get playful learning ideas for home!

LEARN

Learn more about how our play spaces, events, and programs promote unstructured play, which is a powerful tool for social, emotional, and physical growth in children.

ENGAGE

Learn how you can support Smith through donations, volunteering, membership, and more!

DOWNLOAD THE SMITH APP

“Smith Play Jawn” TV Show – Tune in and Submit Your JAWN!

Smith Has a New TV Show!

“Smith Play Jawn” is Smith Memorial Playground’s new TV show which encourages and models playful learning at the Playground, in nature, and in everyday spaces. Join us for music time, story time, at-home and nature play ideas, and to share YOUR jawn! Smith will produce a new episode with a special theme each month which will air weekly on Wednesdays.

Tune in Wednesdays at 3pm on:
Comcast 66/966HD | Verizon 29/30 | phillycam.org/watch

Watch episodes online

Family Time Activities

In celebration of Black History Month, check out our suggested “Family Time” activities inspired by 12 inspirational African American leaders. A few are featured in this month’s episode of Smith Play Jawn and all 12 are featured in our “Leaders and Legends of North Philadelphia” outdoor exhibition, on display at Smith from February 6 through 28!

Learn More

Submit Your Jawn

Drawing by Lydia, age 7

Each month, Smith features something made by a young person on “Smith Play Jawn”. Submissions may be artwork, videos, poetry, or something else creative!

Submit Your Jawn!

Music Needed!

Smith also needs recorded music and/or music videos to for the “Music Time” feature segment of the show as well as for background and transitions.

If you are a musician or music artist interested in submitting music, please email zoe@smithplayground.org to discuss further.

Upcoming Events

Smith Memorial Playground is currently closed to the public for the Winter season. Learn more about how you can stay connected and continue playful learning at home here!

Smith Memories | Helen Stika Porter

Smith Memorial Playground has been a treasured destination for generations of families for over 100 years. An individual’s “Smith memories” can illustrate our positive effect on a child, which can last a lifetime.

Last month, Helen Porter, a 92-year-old Philadelphia resident, visited Smith for the first time as an adult. She brought two family members with her to reminisce about her time at Smith as a child. Helen recalls her first visit to Smith in 1930:

When I was 6 years old, my Sunday School teacher took our class and some of the mothers to Smith Playground. The year was 1930. It was a very long ride on the number 3 trolley. Because I got “trolley” sick, I was always given peppermint Chiclets. To this day, I seldom eat anything peppermint!

Helen (middle) visited us with her daughter, Gale, (left) and sister-in-law, Joanne.

We spent many hours in the big house playing checkers and other games, but the highlight of the day was the big sliding board. We went up and down, up and down. Every so often, it was adults only and the mothers stood in line and took their turns.After that visit, my mother took my brothers and me every summer. And now, the summer of 2016, 86 years later, I went back to Smith Playground! I remember the sliding board being much bigger, housed in a two story house with lots of steps to get to the top. Of course, I was very little and it seemed huge! What a surprise! My daughter, Gale, enjoyed her turn on the slide. We had a wonderful visit.

The mansion and grounds are a treasure and I was so glad to see it maintained so that it can be enjoyed by today’s children. Just like me, these children will have wonderful memories of Smith Playground.”

Gale goes down the Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide for the first time!

Do you have a Smith memory you’d like to share with us?

We want to hear from you. Please email your story/memory to Zoe Hillengas, Communications Manager, at zoe@smithplayground.org.

WATCH: A Mansion for Kids

Thank you to former Smith board member Terry Ruggles and film maker Meredith Nutting for creating this video about Smith. Feel free to share, so that more families can learn about us! Watch “A Mansion for Kids”