Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse is thrilled to announce that it will partner with the Parent Infant Center (PIC) to open an Urban Nature Preschool at Smith!   

Smith is proud of our 119-year history as a beloved space where children enjoy free play, and of our education and advocacy efforts to promote the importance of play for children’s healthy development. As part of our $13.5M capital campaign, Preserving Play, we are also committed to expanding the ways that Smith serves as a resource for families. One result of making major capital improvements to our historic Playhouse will be the creation of an Urban Nature Preschool where exploration of the natural environment in East Fairmount Park and play and learning in – and through – nature will be central to the curriculum. The Urban Nature Preschool will also serve as a local and regional training site for other early childhood educators who will have the opportunity to explore and study the program “in action,” and to observe how hands-on exploration and outdoor opportunities serve as the primary focus of the curriculum.   

We think our plan is a truly unique vision, especially in an urban environment like Philadelphia. And we know we need a great partner to help make the Urban Nature Preschool a reality.  Earlier this spring, Smith’s staff and board solicited and vetted proposals for a partner to operate the preschool. We selected PIC based on its impressive track record of providing the highest quality early childhood education, its commitment to nature play and learning, and the alignment of its mission and values with Smith’s own dedication to serving a diverse population of families.  

The Urban Nature Preschool will be located in a portion of the Playhouse that is not used currently and that will undergo extensive repair and renovation, possibly as early as 2019.  It will have two classrooms, each serving 17-18 children, ages 3-5. The preschool will operate full-day, full-year, and is committed to serving a wide range of families, including those who live in the neighborhoods closest to Smith.  

We look forward to this exciting partnership with PIC.  In the meantime, we are focused on our capital fundraising. Reaching a $5.5M milestone will position us to break ground on renovations of the ground floor of the Playhouse, with additional capital goals for more building improvements also in the works.  We are very close! 

More information about the urban nature preschool, including renderings, can be found here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Zoe Lowry
zoe@smithplayground.org
215.765.4325 x101 

Philadelphia, PA (June 28, 2018) – The 5th annual Kidchella Music Festival is in full swing at Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse with remaining concerts on Friday, July 20 and August 17!  Each date will feature live music in the 6 ½ acre Playground by nationally acclaimed Children’s Music artists, youth performances, arts stations, and yummy food trucks.   

At 4pm families are invited to Smith for free play in the Playground and family fun in the Youth Arts Zone which includes a youth music stage, arts stations, and giveaways.  Families may purchase dinner from a variety of popular food trucks or bring food for a picnic in the Playground.  

The main concert will begin at 6pm and will feature a fantastic lineup of family-friendly music curated by Jeff Bogle of OWTK.com and emceed by Kathy O’Connell of WXPN Kids Corner.  Shine and the Moonbeams (Soul/R&B) and Grammy-nominated The Alphabet Rockers (positive Hip Hop) will perform in July and Red Yarn (foot stomping Americana Folk) and Vered and the Babes (Doo Woop inspired Acoustic Rock) will perform in August. 

Smith’s Executive Director Meg Wise noted, “Kidchella started in 2014 as a small performance on our front lawn for an audience of a few hundred people and grew to a summer-long concert series in the Playground welcoming over 2,000 children and adults from all sections of the City and surrounding suburbs as well as out-of-state visitors. This year, we are excited to give as many families as possible the opportunity to experience this awesome event by offering discounted tickets to PA ACCESS cardholders and free admission for families participating in our Play For All community programs.” 

Kidchella is a rain or shine outdoor event.  Tickets are $10 per person (children age 1+ and adults) or $5 for Smith members and PA ACCESS Cardholders.  Purchase tickets, memberships, and learn more at: https://smithplayground.ticketleap.com/kid2018/  

Support for Kidchella provided in part by the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, MetroKids, Power Crunch, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Inspire, Kia Motors America, Simple Society, Honest Tea, and Lee’s Hoagie House.  

Shine and the Moonbeams are singer-songwriter Shawana Kemp and guitarist John Heagle, two New York musicians who have collectively been in every musical genre from Musical Theatre to the circus. Learn more at Shine & the Moonbeams (Facebook) 

Alphabet Rockers are known as the premiere children’s hip hop artists who focus on social change and racial justice. Learn more at www.alphabetrockers.com  

Red Yarn (aka Andy Furgeson) is a Texas-born, Oregon-based family performer who weaves folksongs and puppetry into high-energy shows for all ages.  Learn more at www.redyarnproductions.com   

Vered and the Babes consists of the amazing Rob Jost on bass and french horn, and Matt Hilgenberg on trumpet and percussion. Their songs have the kids jumping, cooking, and shaking while their parents are smiling and sometimes even shading a tear. Learn more at www.babyintune.com   

Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse is a non-profit organization located in Philadelphia’s East Fairmount Park.  Founded in 1899, Smith welcomes over 200,000 visitors annually from more than 500 zip code areas.  The mission of Smith is to provide and promote opportunities for unstructured free play for children. Smith contributes to the development of healthy children, strong families, and safe communities by: 1) maintaining a proud tradition of free family admission; 2) partnering with community-based organizations to reach a diverse audience; and 3) advocating for the importance of play.  For more information about Smith please visit www.smithplayground.org.   

Thank You To Our Generous Sponsors!

Power Crunch, a company committed to children and healthy living, joins Smith to provide support and additional programming for our annual family events including Play-A-Palooza, Kidchella Music Festival, Healthy Halloween, and Winter Wonderland.

As a national sponsor of the Boys & Girls Club of America, Power Crunch will bring their “Nutrition Mission” campaign to Smith this Spring. Families are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations to Smith through the month of April.

“Nutrition Mission” is a program designed to help feed thousands of kids who participate in the National School Lunch Program. During the summer months, Nutrition Mission ensures these children receive a healthy lunch when they no longer receive a free meal at school and access to food may be minimized.

Philadelphia, PA (March 1, 2018) – Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse invites families to Play-A-Palooza 2018, the seasonal grand opening of the Playground, on Saturday, March 31 from 12pm – 4pm.  This year, Play-A-Palooza will include a special PBS Kids Pop Up area on Smith’s front lawn featuring appearances by Nature Cat, special giveaways, and games in addition to live performances by All Around the World Music; Keystone State Boychoir, Pennsylvania Girlchoir, Garden State Girlchoir, New Jersey Boychoir, Philadelphia School for the Circus Arts and Project Capoeira; and other activities in the 6 1/2 acre Playground!

A variety of nature play activities, arts and crafts, and games will be presented by other local partners including Audubon Pennsylvania, Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, Kith + Kin, Let’s Go Outdoors, Northeast Treatment Centers, Outward Bound, Parent-Child Home Program, Public Health Management Corporation, Read by 4^th, Soccer Shots, and Tinkergarten. Healthy snacks generously provided by Herr’s. Other support for Play-A-Palooza provided in part by Power Crunch and WHYY.

Smith’s Executive Director Meg Wise noted that “although we have begun to keep the Playground open year-round in 2018, Play-a-Palooza marks the official start of our Playground season which includes access to the Giant Wooden Slide and extended Spring and Summer visiting hours.  In addition, we are thrilled to offer free household admission to ACCESS cardholders in addition to our members, which we hope will give more families the opportunity to experience one of the happiest days of the year at Smith.”

Admission is $10 per child or free household admission for Smith members and ACCESS cardholders.
Details and tickets
Playground season hours

Media Contact:
Zoe Lowry
215.765.4325 x101
zoe@smithplayground.org

 This year, the Playground will be open year-round (weather permitting)! Visit us now through March for indoor AND outdoor play (grounds must be dry for Playground access, and wind chill within a safe range). Please note that the the Slide will be closed January through March and there will be limited staff on-site

Fall/Winter Hours

Tuesday – Sunday
10am-4pm*

*Slide closed, limited staff,
Grounds must be dry and wind chill above 32 degrees for Playground access

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Zoe Hillengas Lowry
215.765.4325 x101
zoe@smithplayground.org

November 17, 2017 (Philadelphia, PA) – Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse will host its annual Winter Wonderland celebration presented by PECO on Saturday, December 9^th from 10am-12pm. Families are invited to Smith for festivities that include holiday decorations, an ice carving demonstration, s’mores making, and messy arts.

Special activities include a “Trailblazers to Freedom Traveling Trunks” interactive exhibition presented by the African American Museum in Philadelphia, live music and dance by nationally acclaimed children’s music artist Alex & the Kaleidoscope and School of Dance Arts, and activities provided by Audubon Pennsylvania and Northeast Treatment Centers. Hot chocolate and decorations generously provided by Old City Coffee and Primex Garden Center.

Executive Director Meg Wise said, “We are thrilled to host Winter Wonderland again this year, and are grateful to generous support from PECO. Providing an inclusive family celebration is important to Smith’s values, and we are proud to offer free admission to families who are ACCESS cardholders.”

Admission is $10 per child or free household admission for Smith members and ACCESS cardholders.
Details and tickets: https://smithplayground.ticketleap.com/Winter2017/

Print and broadcast media are invited to attend and cover this event.

Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse is a non-profit organization located in Philadelphia’s East Fairmount Park. Founded in 1899, Smith welcomes over 200,000 visitors annually from more than 500 zip code areas. The mission of Smith is to provide and promote opportunities for unstructured free play for children. Smith contributes to the development of healthy children, strong families, and safe communities by: 1) maintaining a proud tradition of free family admission; 2) partnering with community-based organizations to reach a diverse audience; and 3) advocating for the importance of play. For more information about Smith please visit www.smithplayground.org.

PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation, the nation’s leading competitive energy supplier. The company’s 2,500 dedicated employees provide advanced, innovative energy solutions to 1.6 million electric and more than 511,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. The company has an estimated annual economic impact of $4.5 billion in Pennsylvania, supporting more than 9,600 local jobs and producing $760 million in labor income. Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region’s most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations. For more information visit PECO.com.

Smith has applied for a grant from Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) to make improvements to the Playhouse, including new restrooms, more space for children to play free of charge, and a Nature Preschool. New space and services are expected to lead to the creation of 10 new, full-time jobs at Smith.

If this sounds good to you, please tell your elected officials to support a RACP grant to Smith!  Governor Tom Wolf, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, your City Council people, and your Representative and Senator in Harrisburg all play key roles in grant decisions.  Please write, call or email them to show your support for Smith and the RACP grant.

Contact My Elected Official

Sunday, October 8
9-10am Member VIP Meet and Greet with Daniel Tiger
10am-12pm Open to general Public

Celebrate the arrival of fall with WHYY and Daniel Tiger at Smith! Make memories while creating a community mural, participate in the “Global Cardboard Challenge”, and enjoy the Playground and Playhouse. Bring a gently used book to share with your neighbors and receive a special treat. Smith and WHYY members are invited for a VIP Meet and Greet with Daniel Tiger before the Playground opens!

Free RSVP

*Please note: Daniel is a very popular tiger. Photo wait times may exceed 45 minutes. Children ages 10 and under are permitted to attend this event.

WHAT: Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse’s 4th Annual Kidchella Music Festival will continue next Friday with a concert in Smith’s 6 ½ acre Playground featuring two nationally acclaimed children’s music artists!  In celebration of Smith’s 118^th birthday, families will enjoy youth performances, a red carpet and photo booth, face painting, arts stations, and special giveaways in addition to the main concert in the Playground. Kidchella is a rain or shine outdoor event. Families may purchase food from a variety of popular food trucks or bring a picnic dinner.  Tickets are $10 per child (age 1+) or adult or $5 per person for Smith members. Purchase tickets and memberships at: http://smithplayground.ticketleap.com/kid2017

Support for Kidchella is provided by The Philadelphia Cultural Fund, the PA Council on the Arts, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Philadelphia Family, MetroKids, and Power Crunch.

WHEN: Friday, July 21, 2017=
4-6pm: Youth stage performances, red carpet and photo booth, face painting, free play time for families
6-7:30pm: Main concert with dance party intermission sponsored by Power Crunch

WHO: For more than seven years, The Not-Its! have rocked kids and families with their up-tempo albums and live concerts that give children their first “rock show” experience. More

Chibi Kodama is an all-ages indie rock band for kids and families. Hailing from West Tennessee, Chibi Kodama sings anthems of the highs and lows of growing up, being a grown up, and all of the crazy life in between. More

WHERE: Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse
3500 Reservoir Drive, East Fairmount Park
Philadelphia, PA 19121

ABOUT: Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse is a non-profit organization located in Philadelphia’s East Fairmount Park.  Founded in 1899, Smith welcomes over 180,000 visitors annually from more than 500 zip code areas.  The mission of Smith is to provide and promote opportunities for unstructured free play for children. Smith contributes to the development of healthy children, strong families, and safe communities by: 1) maintaining a proud tradition of free family admission; 2) partnering with community-based organizations to reach a diverse audience; and 3) advocating for the importance of play.  For more information about Smith please visit www.smithplayground.org.

CONTACT: Zoe Hillengas
zoe@smithplayground.org
215.765.4325 x101

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Zoe Hillengas
zoe@smithplayground.org
215.765.4325 x101 

Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse’s wildly popular Kidchella Music Festival will continue for a fourth year on Friday, June 16, July 21, and August 18 with support provided by the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, the PA Council on the Arts, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Philadelphia Family, and MetroKids.  This year, the festival will include a Youth Arts Zone on Smith’s front lawn in addition to the main stage concerts in Smith’s 6.5 acre Playground emceed by Kathy O’Connell of WXPN’s Kids Corner and featuring six nationally acclaimed Children’s Music artists.

Beginning at 4pm, families are invited to enjoy a youth music stage run by aspiring music industry professionals from Jr. Music Executive and featuring additional youth music performances by The Village of Arts and Humanities and Settlement Music School; arts stations led by The Village of Arts and Humanities ceramics and photography students; and a variety of popular food trucks.

At 6pm, families will enjoy a fantastic lineup of family-friendly music curated by Jeff Bogle of OutWithTheKids.com that include performances by Karen K and the Jitterbugs, the Deedle Deedle Dees, The Not-Its, Chibi Kodama, Alex and the Kaleidoscope, and Pears 4 Bears.

Smith’s Executive Director Meg Wise noted, “Kidchella started in 2014 as a small performance on our front lawn for an audience of a few hundred people and grew to a summer-long concert series in the Playground welcoming 2,000 children and adults from all sections of the City and surrounding suburbs as well as out-of-state visitors. This year, we are excited to expand the festival even more to include a Youth Arts Zone that will highlight the talents of Philadelphia youth in our neighboring communities.”

Kidchella is a rain or shine outdoor event.  Tickets are $10 per person (children age 1+ and adults) or $5 for Smith members.

Details & Tickets

Named one of the “Must-See Acts of 2015” and called “Power pop sheen that makes them fun for the whole family” by the Boston Globe, Karen K and the Jitterbugs are a favorite among kids and kid-ults in Boston and beyond. More

The Deedle Deedle Dees are a critically-acclaimed cult band for families based in New York City. They are known for their lively, highly interactive concerts and have brought their “rock-n-roll classroom” to venues all over the country. More

For more than seven years, The Not-Its! have rocked kids and families with their up-tempo albums and live concerts that give children their first “rock show” experience. More

Chibi Kodama is an all-ages indie rock band for kids and families. Hailing from West Tennessee, Chibi Kodama sings anthems of the highs and lows of growing up, being a grown up, and all of the crazy life in between. More

Alex and the Kaleidoscope encourages and inspires kids to celebrate and learn through the power of songs, fun facts, and adventures to interesting places around the world. More

Pears 4 Bears performs a family-friendly live music shows with visual fun and puppetry. More

Support for Kidchella provided by:

10th Annual Party in the Playground

Join us for a playful, adults-only celebration on
Thursday, May 18th from 5:30-8pm
to benefit Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse.

Emceed by NBC10’s Denise Nakano, this year’s Party in the Playground will include the presentation of the 2017 Ida Newman Magic of Play Award to play expert Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, La Salle University chapter. Enjoy delicious food from Tela’s Market and popular food trucks Dos Hermanos Tacos, Dump N Roll, Philly Fry, Pie Stand, and SPOT Gourmet Burgers; drinks and sweets from Flying Fish Brewery, Jack’s Firehouse, Moore Brothers Wine, and Philadelphia Distilling; a silent auction; live entertainment; and rides down the Ann Newman Giant Wooden slide!

Details & Tickets

Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors!

Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide

Susan O. Jaffe

___

Nature Explore

Hanley and Isabelle Bodek
___

Build Adventure

Elizabeth Cohen and David Whellan
Anna Forrester and Mitchell Young
Paulette Greenwell and Scott Measley
Elinor Haider and Matthew D. Lee
Jessie Hill
Kate and Peter Kelsen
Dan and Faye Ross in honor of Jim Strazzella

___

Straz Land

D3 Real Estate Development
Peter Hilton-Kingdon and Kathy Ochroch
James and Sonica Kearney
Connie Lotz and Art Kaiser
Mark B. Thompson Associates LLC
Vicky and Matt Martelli
Jennifer Mogck
Seltzer & Associates
Stephen Wielgus and Kristin Fogel
___

Smithville

Jenny and Luca Bogoni
Jeff Braff and Hope Comisky
Harry and Kate Byrne
The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
Jon and Kelly Cleborne
John Curtin III and Hayley Noel
Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children
Ben Dugan and Jeni Johnson
William Ewing
Denise and Ed Fagan
Fairmount Park Conservancy
Paul Laskow and Margaret Meigs
Christine and John J. Leonard
John and Liddy Lindsay
Nina Liou and Scott Page
Denise Nakano
Ivy , Matt, and Brody Olesh
Brian and Andrea Onta
Aleni Pappas and Anthony Kyriakakis
Betty and John Pettine
Dan and Faye Ross
Maurice Schweitzer and Michelle Narin
Caroline M. Simon
Gael and Jamie Simon
Fred and Margaret Vincent
Alexandra Vinograd and Steven Ujifusa
Ilene Wasserman
Eleanor and Stan Wielgus
Sara Woods and Will Enscore
Your Part-Time Controller, LLC

___

In-kind

Visitor Services Assistants are responsible for welcoming and interacting with visitors at Smith, maintaining a clean and safe environment in the Playhouse and on the Playground.  S/he is the first point of contact for the public to Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse and must have exceptional people skills, strong attention to detail, and a commitment to friendly customer service.

Read full job description

To apply send resume and cover letter to shadirah@smithplayground.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           

Philadelphia, PA (March 3, 2016) – As “Spring fever” spreads, Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse will celebrate Play-A-Palooza, its seasonal playground grand opening party on Saturday, March 25, 2016 from 12pm – 4pm.  Families will enjoy nature exploration, carnival games, arts and crafts, and other special activities in the 6 1/2 acre Playground before the official start of Playground season.

Several local partners including Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Art Splash program, Greener Partners, The Junior League of Philadelphia, Let’s Go Outdoors, Northeast Treatment Centers, READ by 4^th, Soccer Shots, So Love Autistic Center, Tinkergarten, Philadelphia Water Department, the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Words at Play program, and children’s book author Anna Forrester will help present the day’s activities. Healthy snacks will be provided by Costco Wholesale, Herr’s, and Wawa. Smith’s Executive Director Meg Wise noted that “Play-a-Palooza is one of the happiest days of the year.  We are thrilled to reopen the Playground after the winter, and can’t wait to welcome families back for days of play at Smith.”

Play-A-Palooza is free for Smith members or $10 per child for non-members (accompanying adults free). Get a head start on the Playground season by RSVP’ing or purchasing advance tickets and memberships at: https://smithplayground.ticketleap.com/playapalooza2017

Extended Playground and Playhouse visiting hours for free family visits begin April 1^st, when the Playhouse is open 10-4 T-F and 10-6 on weekends and the Playground is open 10-6 T-F and 10-7 on weekends.

Contact: Zoe Hillengas
215.765.4325 x101
zoe@smithplayground.org

Photo credit: Studio Ludo

Smith has started a partnership with the Free Library of Philadelphia, Studio Ludo, Erector Sets Inc., and DIGSAU to create new play spaces in the Cecil B. Moore, Wyoming, Kingsessing, and Whitman library branches. Smith will educate library staff about how to best incorporate play into its programming. Community engagement sessions were held in January and February to gather ideas and feedback from families about what play could look like at each of the four local branches.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 18, 2016 (Philadelphia, PA) – Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse will host its annual Winter Wonderland celebration presented by PECO on Saturday, December 10^th from 4pm-6pm. Children 10 and younger and their caregivers are invited to Smith for festivities that include holiday lights, messy arts, an ice carving demonstration, gingerbread house building, s’mores making, and live music.

Smith is joined by The Hacktory and Jr. Music Executive to provide the evening’s festivities.  Yummy treats, hot chocolate, giveaways, and decorations generously provided by Wegman’s, Giant, Old City Coffee, Doc Bresler’s Cavity Busters, and Primex Garden Center.

This event is free for Smith members and $10 per child for non-members.  Admission for adults is free but they must be accompanied by a child.  Tickets and family memberships can be purchased at: www.smithplayground.ticketleap.com/winter2016

Print and broadcast media are invited to attend and cover this event.  To make arrangements for coverage, please contact: zoe@smithplayground.org

Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse is a non-profit organization located in Philadelphia’s East Fairmount Park.  Founded in 1899, Smith welcomes over 200,000 visits annually from more than 500 zip code areas.  The mission of Smith is to provide and promote opportunities for unstructured free play for children. Smith contributes to the development of healthy children, strong families, and safe communities by: 1) maintaining a proud tradition of free family admission; 2) partnering with community-based organizations to reach a diverse audience; and 3) advocating for the importance of play.  For more information about Smith please visit www.smithplayground.org.

PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation, the nation’s leading competitive energy supplier. The company’s 2,500 dedicated employees provide advanced, innovative energy solutions to 1.6 million electric and more than 511,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. The company has an estimated annual economic impact of $4.5 billion in Pennsylvania, supporting more than 9,600 local jobs and producing $760 million in labor income. Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region’s most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations. For more information visit PECO.com.

Contact: Zoe Hillengas
215.765.4325 x101
zoe@smithplayground.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 3, 2016 (Philadelphia, PA) – Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse will host its annual Healthy Halloween celebration on Saturday, October 29th from 10am – 12pm to promote healthy living for families and youth. Children 10 and younger and their caregivers are invited to participate in arts and crafts, carnival games, science experiments, and other Halloween activities as well as enjoy healthy treats and tons of fun in the 6 ½ acre Playground and 16,000 sq. ft. Playhouse! Children are welcome to come in costume.

Smith is joined by Northeast Treatment Centers, Soccer Shots, The Hacktory, Health Promotion Council, Greener Partners, and Read by 4th to provide the morning’s festivities. Healthy treats, giveaways, and decorations generously provided by Beech-Nut, Clif Bar, Wegmans, Bitsy’s Brainfood, Doc Bresler’s Cavity Busters, and Primex Garden Center.

This event is free for Smith members and $10 per child for non-members (admission for accompanying adults is free). Tickets and family memberships can be purchased at here.

Print and broadcast media are invited to attend and cover this event.

Contact: Zoe Hillengas
215.765.4325 x101
zoe@smithplayground.org

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.

This month Smith received three new benches lovingly handcrafted by Jennifer Mitschele of Newtown, PA. The benches, designed to encourage creative play, were created in honor of four Newtown, PA boys — Noah, Jack, Owen, and Austin — who passed away due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

This story, coupled with a request to build park benches in the boys’ honor, was brought to Jennifer’s attention in September 2015 by the Newtown Moms Club.  Jennifer, whose nephew passed away at 2.5 years old, connected with the story and accepted the challenge to create pieces that would preserve the memory of the four infants and honor their families.  With full freedom to create anything in her imagination, she designed what she believed all little boys grow to love: trains, airplanes & pirate ships! The finished benches are not only meant for sitting, but also as a creative space where children can explore, smile, and laugh.

In Spring 2016, Jennifer reached out to Smith to donate the benches for children to enjoy in the Playground.  Jennifer notes, “The honor of having these benches at Smith Memorial Playground means more than many could ever imagine, not only for me, but for these families who have lost their precious babies. To know their names will be uttered by thousands throughout the years and their memory recalled through this story means their loved ones will not be forgotten.”

This Playground season, visitors will notice a new nature play area in the Playground complete with areas for dirt digging, climbing, playing with water, and more!  In Fall 2015, Smith was selected by the U.S. Forest Service and Nature Explore, a national collaborative program of the Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, to receive a new, customized nature play space as a means to engage children with their natural surroundings.  Special thanks to the U.S. Forest Service in collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, with additional help from the Forest Service Northern Research Station, Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Water Department, TreePhilly, Octoraro Native Plant Nursery, Edge of the Woods Nursery, and Mid Atlantic Natives Plant Nursery!

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”

(July 29, 2015) You may be familiar with the work of Joe Boruchow, a street artist whose black and white wheatpastes are all over the city on mailboxes, trash compactors, doorways, and windows.  His newest work is a mural on both walls of the 33rd Street bridge leading up to the intersection of 33rd & Oxford Streets from Girard Avenue.  The mural depicts Smith Memorial Playground’s Playhouse, Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide, and swing set as well as other notable Philadelphia sites including:

• Strawberry Mansion Bridge
• Beth Israel Temple
• Woodford Mansion
• The Coltrane house row homes with Coltrane and band
• The historic # 9 trolley
• Vernon House apartment building
• Cornerstone Baptist Church and Strawberry Mansion Bridge
• Utility poles mirroring the existing ones at the mural site
• Row homes inspired by Spangler Street
• Dottie Smith singing with trio
• Fletcher Street Riders
• Strawberry Mansion
• Dell East.

Check out the mural on your next visit to Smith!