Help Smith Close its Fundraising Gap to Finish Playhouse Renovations and Urban Nature Preschool Construction!
Preserving Play: A Campaign for the Next Generation
Smith is embarking on a transformational $14.1 million campaign that will significantly expand its programming and reach, and protect its legacy as a unique Philadelphia treasure for generations to come. The campaign will elevate Smith as a national leader in play and early childhood education, create additional enhancements for visitors to enjoy and experience East Fairmount Park, and develop a full-time, year-round Urban Nature Preschool that uses nature and the outdoors as the curriculum’s foundation.
Please refer to our Playhouse Construction Frequently Asked Questions and The Urban Nature Preschool: Cornerstone of the Preserving Play Campaign for more details about the preschool.
Smith is a free resource and civic treasure in Philadelphia, where generations of families from diverse backgrounds join together in unstructured, creative, and fun play. Built 120 years ago for the exclusive purpose of play, Smith’s beautiful, 16,000 square foot historic Playhouse sits on 6 ½ acres of open fields, wooded terrain, and sloped hills in East Fairmount Park. Smith welcomes visitors from over 500 zip code areas annually (including every zip code in Philadelphia) and leads education and advocacy efforts to promote play throughout the city.
Many of the social and intellectual skills one needs to succeed in life are initially developed through early childhood play. Yet play is still undervalued in our society. Smith, however, provides an opportunity for children and their families to enjoy unorganized play, which creates healthy learners, fosters creativity, and encourages collaboration.
Funds raised through the campaign will be used for the following projects:
MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES to help launch the Urban Nature Preschool on the first level, and to create new programmable space on the second level (Working Goal: $8.6 million)
REVITALIZED FRONT LAWN AND PARKING LOT to serve as a nature exploration Gateway to the play space (Working Goal: $3.5 million)
ROBUST ENDOWMENT to ensure continued support for the children and families we serve, regardless of background and income levels, for years to come (Working Goal: $2 million)
Please refer to An Exciting Opportunity to Promote and Preserve Play for more details about the projects above.
Mark Your Calendars!
September 2020: Urban Nature Preschool Opening
Please refer to The Urban Nature Preschool: Cornerstone of the Preserving Play Campaign for general details about the preschool. For questions about enrollment contact Parent Infant Center Executive Director Debbie Green at dgreen@parentinfantcenter.org or 215-222-5480
In Case You Missed It…
September 13, 2019: Playhouse Closed for Construction
Smith’s Playhouse closed to the public for renovations and Urban Nature Preschool construction for a full year (through August 2020). The Playground remains open for free family visits, group visits, birthday party rentals, and our annual events. Please refer to our Playhouse Construction Frequently Asked Questions for more details.
Saturday, October 26, 2019: Smith Broke Ground on Playhouse Renovations & Honored Preserving Play Supporters
On October 26, Smith kicked off the exciting renovations to its historic Playhouse with a celebration of the major supporters of its Preserving Play campaign and the recent $1M gift from the Pieper Family of Switzerland, hard hat tours of the construction, and the presentation of plans for a new Urban Nature Preschool in the Playhouse! View photos
Preserving Play Media Coverage
Alpenhorn sounds at Smith Playground to mark Swiss billionaire’s $1M gift for playhouse restoration
Philadelphia Inquirer
Smith Playground Preserving Play Campaign
How to Support the Preserving Play Campaign
Smith has raised 94% of the funds needed to ensure that the Urban Nature Preschool opens in Fall 2020 and invites your support to help us close our $500,000 fundraising gap.
To date, we have raised more than $8 million toward our overall Campaign goal. We invite you to make a gift in support of the Preserving Play Campaign to honor the important and unique role Smith plays in promoting play for children and families in Philadelphia, and as an example for others to follow.
If you are interested in naming a space or program, please click the following link: Preserving Play Naming Opportunities
If you are interested in making a gift or a pledge in support of the Preserving Play Campaign, please click on the following link:
Thank You to Our Major Campaign Supporters!
$1,000,000 or more
City Council Discretionary Funds
Federal Historic Tax Credits
Franke Group
William Penn Foundation
$250,000 – $999,999
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources*
Otto Haas Charitable Trust
Pennsylvania Office of the Budget, Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program*
$100,000 – $249,999
Melissa and Paul Anderson
Hanley and Isabelle Zwygart Bodek
2019 Board of Directors Fund
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
Fund for Quality
$25,000 – 99,999
25th Century Foundation
Elizabeth Cohen and David Whellan
Hassell Foundation
Landenberger Family Foundation
Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation
Michael Metelits
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission*
Dan and Faye Ross
*Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse’s Preserving Play Campaign is supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Park Rehabilitation and Development Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund. Additional financial assistance provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Honorable Tom Wolf, Governor.
In addition, we extend heartfelt thanks to several donors that have supported the Campaign with gifts up to $24,999.