Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse

New Urban Nature Preschool at Smith Opens Fall 2021!

With the recent completion of renovations to our historic Playhouse, Smith is excited to announce the opening of a new Urban Nature Preschool at Smith!

NEW URBAN NATURE PRESCHOOL TO OPEN THIS FALL!

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 should contact Rebecca Dhondt at preschool@smithplayground.org or 215-765-4325 x103

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!

Introducing Smith Memorial Playground Mobile App

Parents can track their children’s points from playing in the Smith Memorial playground for FREE!

Click to download the Smith Playground App on iOS or Android.

What is Smith Memorial Playground?

Smith Memorial Playground is a treasured place in East Fairmount Park for over 100 years. Smith offers unstructured creative play for children 10 and younger.

Why did we build this app?

We built this app for parents to track the points their children gain from using each area of the Smith Memorial Playground, make donations, join and track memberships and sign up to volunteer.

Who is the app for?

This app is for families who are new or current members of the Smith Memorial Playground to track their engagement.

How do I create an account?

Creating an account is simple and easy! Go to the App Store or Google Play on your mobile device and type Smith Memorial Playground in the search bar. Once you’ve found the app, click on it, and start downloading. Click here to see a demonstration!

Open the app and create your very own account to get started!

How is the app used?

Play:

Users can use the app to check-in at Smith, earn points and rewards for playing at Smith and at home, attend events and get playful learning ideas for home.

Learn:

Users can learn about Smith’s spaces, events, and programs that promote unstructured play that fosters social and physical growth in children.

Engage:

Users can engage with Smith by signing up to volunteer, make donations, and more.

Who built the app?

Smith Memorial Playground worked closely with MilkCrate to build an app for our volunteer coordinators and volunteers to use. MilkCrate is a tech company that empowers nonprofits to grow their mission and achieve goals all from an app.

To learn more about MilkCrate, visit www.milkcrate.tech and get a referral from us for a discount if your organization is interested in building their own 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

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

Second Annual

Slide-A-Thon

Saturday, May 15, 2021
Enjoy private and exclusive access to the historic Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide and compete for the highest number of slides during your time slot to support Smith!

Kidchella Music Festival

Save the Dates!
Friday, June 18
Friday, July 16
Friday, August 13

Pre-show performances 4:00pm-5:30pm
Main concert 6:00pm-7:30pm

Smith’s Kidchella Music Festival is BACK this year with 6 nationally acclaimed Children’s Music artists and other festivities on the 6 1/2 acre Playground. Details and advance ticket sales coming soon!

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”