Playhouse Construction and New Urban Nature Preschool at Smith

Construction Update

Get a sneak peek at the Playhouse construction in this awesome clip from our new TV show “Smith Play Jawn“

Dear Smith Visitors, Members, Supporters, and Friends, As many of you know, Smith’s historic Playhouse has been under construction since Fall 2019.  Despite a temporary pause on construction due to City restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, renovations resumed and continued throughout the summer of 2020!  Learn more below about the progress of this exciting project.

Playhouse Construction to be Completed in early 2021 Construction is expected to be completed in early 2021, and the Playhouse will reopen as soon as deemed appropriate under the prevailing COIVD-19 guidelines.* Playhouse improvements will include: new side porches available for party rentals renovated lower level bathrooms an upgraded “Smithville” (trikes and bikes play area) new heating and plumbing systems a new Urban Nature Preschool *this timeline is subject to change, depending on potential updates to federal, state, or city restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Urban Nature Preschool to Open in Fall 2021 Smith’s new Urban Nature Preschool on the lower level of the Playhouse will: serve children age 3-5 and operate full-day (including before and after care) and full-year have a curriculum centered around exploration of the natural environment include two naturally lit classrooms, emphasizing physical connections to the outdoors, as well as outdoor play and learn spaces be committed to serving a diverse range of families, including those who live in the neighborhoods closest to Smith be operated by Smith Memorial Playground staff Urban Nature Preschool Enrollment The new preschool will enroll its first class of students in Fall 2021, with the option for families to begin attending in the preceding summer months.  Families interested in enrolling their children in the preschool can expect enrollment applications to be ready by Winter 2021.

Construction Corner What’s going on up there?

(Top Left) In Fall 2019, the original columns from Smith’s 121-year-old Playhouse were removed. Many were preserved to be reused on the renovated porches! (Top Right) Heading into Winter 2019, the water damaged concrete porches were completely removed down to the steel beams and new drainage and heating and plumbing systems were installed. (Bottom Left and Right) This summer, our side porches were filled in again to provide upgraded outdoor party spaces for our visitors and to cover the new Urban Nature Preschool being built underneath!

Contact Us! Smith is proud of our 121-year history as a beloved co-ed, racially integrated play space and we are excited to expand our education and advocacy efforts in the months and years ahead!  Feel free to reach out to the appropriate staff members below with questions or to receive more information: For questions about preschool enrollment, please contact Rebecca Dhondt at preschool@smithplayground.org or 215-765-4325 x103 For questions about Playhouse construction, please contact Jim Neal at jim@smithplayground.org or 215-765-4325 x103 For questions about supporting Smith’s Preserving Play Campaign, which funds the Playhouse renovations and Urban Nature Preschool, please contact Frances Hoover at frances@smithplayground.org or 215-765-4325 x100

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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.

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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.

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Mark Your Calendars!

2021: Urban Nature Preschool Opening

Please refer to The Urban Nature Preschool: Cornerstone of the Preserving Play Campaign for general details about the preschool. Please direct all questions to info@smithplayground.org or 215-222-5480 x102.

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

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Preserving Play Media Coverage

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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 below:

    

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Thank You to Our Major Campaign Supporters!

$1,000,000 or more

City Council Discretionary Funds
Federal Historic Tax Credits
Pieper family, Franke GP Switzerland
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

Anonymous
Melissa and Paul Anderson
Hanley and Isabelle Bodek
2019 Board of Directors Fund
Fund for Quality
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
Beatrice Pieper
Stephen Starr

$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

$10,000 – $24,999

Jonathan Cleborne
Lon and Bonnie Greenberg
Jean Hemphill
Frances Hoover
Jim Kearney
The Knight Foundation Donor Advised Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation
Gerald and Evelyn Isom
Mary E. Summers and Rogers Smith
McLean Contributionship
Vert Charitable Trust

$5,000 – $9,999

Anna Forrester
Elinor Haider
John Hannah
Caroline Simon
Jane C. MacElree Foundation
Steven and Robin Altschuler
Sandy and Michael Dean
Peggy and Arthur Grodd
John and Liddy Lindsay
Philip and Sarah Price
Aileen and Brian Roberts
Joe Khan

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*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.

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In addition, we extend heartfelt thanks to several donors that have supported the Campaign with gifts up to $4,999.