Feb 11

44. Marconi Plaza — Northwest

08 marconi NWThis is a desolate playground with little shade and lots of trash.  The blue old school geodome monkey bars are pretty cool.  And this is the only time I’ve ever seen three (cf. two or four) swings on one piece of equipment.  But otherwise, I’m afraid there’s not much to commend this playground.  It’s especially odd since there’s a twin playground on the other side of Marconi Plaza, on the other side of Broad Street, that’s much cleaner and nicer.

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Philly Playground Project (visited 12/24/11)
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Visited: January 2013

Feb 11

43. Marconi Plaza — Southeast

07 marconi SE

Zora and I visited this playground on a cold winter’s day and, even though South Broad Street is just paces away, it’s a very secluded, lovely playground.  I showed off a bit on the hemispheric dome, dangling upside down and swinging Zora who firmly grasped my wrists.  There’s the usual structure, too, but two unique items: one, a strange tri-arch system and two, a five-swing set.  It’s in much better shape than the sister playground in Marconi Plaza on the other side of South Broad Street.  Certainly one of our favorite South Philly neighborhood playgrounds.

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Philadelphia Playground Project (not yet reviewed)


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Visited: January 2013

Feb 11

42. Murphy Rec Center Playground

06 murphyCompared to some rec center playgrounds, this one is a little wanting.  But on its own, it’s just fine.  All the basic equipment is here and it’s far enough away from Oregon Ave, that you don’t feel like you’re in the middle of traffic.  There are two cool things about this playground: one, the extraordinary mural on the side of the rec center building featuring inspirational quotes from students describing their heroes, and two, the subtle beauty of a sidewalk that splits and goes around a tree.  You don’t understand what I’m saying?  I guess you have to see it to understand.

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Philadelphia Playground Project review (10/9/10)
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Visited: January 2013

Feb 11

41. Chew Playground

01 chewJust off the chaotic hustle of Washington Ave, Chew Playground (home of the Sigma Sharks) is a big playing field, baseball field, swimming pool, basketball courts, and an impressive playground.  You’ve got the standard two structures, and the infant and kids’ swings, of course.  But you’ve also got a really cool twisty climbing structure and some grassy area set aside next to the playground.  Plus, there’s a beautiful mural painted on the building next to the playground.

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Philadelphia Playground Project review (visited 11/25/09)
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Visited: January 2013

Feb 11

40. Marian Anderson Rec Center

02 marian andersonOn the sunny Saturday afternoon that Zora, Zora’s friend, and I visited this playground, we were serenaded by the tight harmonies of an a capella group inside the rec center.  It was a real treat.  The playground, though, is pretty standard.  It’s sandwiched between the outfield wall of the baseball diamond and the rec center building itself.  But if you have a kid–or you’re one yourself–that just wants you to spend 20 minutes being pushed (and pushed and pushed and pushed) on the swings while you giggle with your friends about going higher, this will work just fine.

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Philadelphia Playground Project review (visited 11/24/09)
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Visited: January 2013

Feb 11

38. Palumbo Rec Center

04 paumboZora, Zora’s friend, and I were playing a mean game of tag at this playground.  I was ‘it.’  Suddenly, I realized that our game had been joined by all 10 other kids on the playground.  Usually, I nod to other parents on the playground, they nod to me.  But we don’t have a whole lot of interaction.  But at Palumbo, everyone was talking and playing with each other.  Maybe it was an aberrant Saturday afternoon, but I kind of got the feeling that’s how everything was here at Palumbo.  The playground is standard, but felt really neighborly. Also: there are easily accessible bathrooms.  Both are huge pluses.

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Philadelphia Playground Project review (visited 8/26/09)

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Visited: January 2013

Feb 11

37. Barry Rec Center Playground

05 barryZora and I and Duckie visited this playground on a brisk Saturday afternoon.  I looked away for a few seconds and Zora had clambored up a rope climbing structure and was 3 feet in the air.  Not that tall?  It is when you’re less than 3 feet yourself.  But Zora’s favorite part of the playground?  Watching the kids play street hockey on the tennis courts.  She could have watched those kids all day long.

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Philadelphia Playground Project review (12/24/11)


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Visited: February 2013

Aug 20

32. Wharton Square Playground

This playground was one of the more litter-y ones we visited–even by South Philly standards.  So it was a real treat to find a lovely rose garden just inside the gate with mosaic-ed concrete benches.  The rose garden has sadly seen some better days, but with the right person with a green thumb, could be brought back to its original beauty quickly.  Otherwise, the playground has not that much to distinguish itself.

Philadelphia Playground Project review (5/7/11)


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