One of the best playgrounds we’ve visited so far. It’s got everything. And the equipment is clean and well-kept. And it’s got a zebra and a parrot rocker. And it’s got enough picnic area to serve half of West Philly. This is definitely a destination playground, especially during the summer when the pool and sprayground (yeah, they got both) are open.
Philadelphia Playground Project (reviewed on 12/31/2011)
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Visited: November 2012
The Rose Playground sits up on a hill over Lansdowne Avenue. It’s hard to see from below and, if you’re driving, it’s difficult to figure out where to park. A neighborhood playground that tries to hide itself from outsiders? I can’t argue with that. But Zora and I were persistent and we got ourselves there and it was well worth it. There are two structures on two levels. There are a couple things that we had not seen anywhere else (yet): a two-person piece that you could hang on and spin from steering-wheel sized spinners; a hemispheric climbing wall; and an old school see saw with a modern twist. Plus, there are some large old shade trees surrounding the grounds. And one more thing: there’s even an adult playground nearby. Which, to be honest, just looks like exercise.
Philadelphia Playground Project (reviewed on 5/19/12)
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Visited: November 2012
After I wrote about the playground across the street from this one at Powel Elementary School, someone wrote me asking why Zora and I didn’t go to this one. The truth is that I hadn’t noticed it. But it’s a nice little spot right tucked into a small well-manicured spot in Powelton Village. The yellow double-humped climbing thing is the coolest piece of equipment. I showed Zora how to do it, but she was too scared to do it herself (for now.)
Philadelphia Playground Project (not yet reviewed)
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Visited: August 2012
This is a great playground. It’s an almost duplicate of the nearby playground at Alain Locke Elementary School. The afternoon we visited, the sun shone bright in the sky and a rambunctious group of four kids played a spirited game of dodge ball among the playground. But what makes it really welcoming are the four picnic tables and gazebo surrounding the play area. That plus the nearby basketball courts would make for a great place to host a family reunion or large gathering. And although the trees aren’t that big, there are six of them, and they’re growing. Just give them a few years. The only downside is that, even by Philly standards, there was an unseemly amount of trash littered about.
Philadelphia Playground Project (not yet reviewed)
Visited: January 2012
This playground, at Mill Creek Rec Center, is marked by one piece of awesomeness: an old school monkey bars just like the kind that used to be in my elementary school. Zora was summarily unimpressed by it, but perhaps she’ll change her mind in a few years. There’s a swimming pool, basketball courts, and a baseball field next in this rec center, too.
Philadelphia Playground Project review (8/3/2011)
Philadelphia Playground Project review (7/24/11)
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Visited: January 2012
OK, I know this isn’t really a playground, but Zora and I love hanging out here. The kids’ section is up the stairs to the right. On Monday and Wednesday nights, it’s open until 8pm. That’s usually when we go. Remember: it’s closed on Sundays.
Philadelphia Playground Project (not yet reviewed)
Visited: January 2012
This looks like an awesome playground, right? But unfortunately it was locked on the Saturday afternoon that Zora and I went out to visit. Major bummer. We were, however, able to look at several of the beautiful murals, including a really vibrant one, seen in the second one down below, of a kid riding a bike.
Philadelphia Playground Project (not yet reviewed.)
Visited: January 2012
This is a great playground with two playgrounds in one. The bigger one is a little too big for Zora, but she loves the smaller one. On one of the days that we went to visit, the Girl Scouts were selling cookies at the playground so that was a big bonus. Plus, the playground is really close to the Sayre Health Center, just a few hundred feet to the north so if you get hurt, bandaids aren’t too far away. The one downside: some of the graffiti is pretty vulgar.
Philadelphia Playground Project (not yet reviewed)
Visited: January 2012
This is a beautiful little park on Baltimore Avenue. It’s also sometimes called Angora Park. And the church that fronts on the park is really lovely to look at, isn’t it? On one of the panels of the playground, looking south, is a neat depiction of the Philly skyline in relief. I wish I had taken a picture of that. The one thing missing from this playground? They should have put in one of those serving counters underneath. Otherwise, it’s a fine, functional playground in a beautiful park.
Philadelphia Playground Project review (11/11/12)
Visited: January 2012
This was an unexpectedly great playground. There’s a rocking horse and a rocking pelican (!) plus a little kids’ playground and a big kids’ playground and lots and lots of swings (probably the most of any playground we visited?) so there should never be any wait. The rec center has a pool and tennis courts and playing fields and on the Saturday afternoon that we were there, the joyous sounds of a basketball game inside echoed throughout the playground. And the murals–including the one of the dancing kids seen in one of the photos below–is really well done.
Philadelphia Playground Project review (10/31/10)
Visited: January 2012
This was Zora’s home field playground from the time that she could walk until the time that her friend, Jai, taught her how to go up the climber at Cedar Park Playground. It continues to be a hit for two reasons. One, Zora loves the dinosaur climber (which is one of only two that I’ve seen in the neighborhood; the other is inside the membership-required University City Swim Club.) And two, it’s a rare visit where we don’t get to talk with someone that we know from the neighborhood. The playground is so social, that it has its own email list.
Philadelphia Playground Project review (7/28/10)
Visited: January 2012
This playground has seen some better days. Bad graffiti adorns most of the structures. But there are some great features. It has an old school double rainbow monkey bars seen at no other playground we’ve been to, a rope climber just like the one at the University City High School playground, and a purple climber similar to the ones at Malcolm X playground. The real surprise, though, was seeing the turtle climber, just like the one in Clark Park. Surrounding the playground are two tennis courts (in need of repair), a basketball court, and lots of open asphalted playing area.
Philadelphia Playground Project review (not yet reviewed)
Visited: January 2012
There are two separate playground areas here–one for big kids and one for little kids–with two sets of swings, three basketball courts, a community garden space to the north, a swimming pool, and these two adorable seals. Plus, the playground is clean and the cushy pads under the playground aren’t ripped or torn. Really, what more can you want? There was some possibly dicey activity going on at one of the street corners near the playground, but the playground area itself was beautiful.
Philadelphia Playground Project review (11/15/09)
Visited: January 2012
I’ve been taking Zora past this playground since she was an infant since this is right outside our polling place. But for the first year, she wasn’t all the interested in playing on the playground itself. There are a couple of playgrounds in the area that have maps of the United States painted on the pavement (eg, Martha Washington Elementary School and (partially concealed beneath the rubber mat) Wilson Alexander Elementary School) but this is the most vibrant, most colorful. This playground might not be as cool as the other elementary school playgrounds in the area, but Lea Elementary School is the only elementary school that we visited that has TWO separate playgrounds. The other is on the other side of the building near 47th and Spruce Streets.
Philadelphia Playground Project review (not yet reviewed)
Visited: January 2012
This is our hometown playground, the one that’s closest to our house and the one, probably, that Zora has been to the most. Plus, the purple see-saw arch and the three perpetual motion seats are, I believe, not found in any other playground we visited in West and Southwest Philly. So when people ask me what the best playground is in the neighborhood, I usually tell them this one. Also going for it is that Cedar Park hosts Friday night jazz concerts in the summer and Satellite Coffee across the street means you can stop for a coffee (or milk) before you go to the park.
Philadelphia Playground Project review (5/28/12)
Visited: January 2012
This photo is taken from a visit last summer to 30th Street Station where Zora and I go regularly to watch the trains. It’s a convenient bike ride away and, at almost every hour of the day, you can watch regional rail trains coming in every few minutes. And Zora is a big railfan. The train watching is free, but we often get a smoothie downstairs while we’re here.
Philadelphia Playground Project review (not yet reviewed)
Visited: January 2012
When I’ve told people that I’m doing this project, visiting all the playgrounds in West and Southwest Philly with Zora, everyone naturally asks me what my favorites are. Cedar Park and Clark Park playgrounds are high on the list, but they’re there partly because they’re closest to our house and Zora’s school. If you’re looking for the best equipment in the most beautiful park, the answer has got to be Malcolm X Park. There’s a spaceship, a fire truck, complicated balance beams, a small gazebo, Talking Bob, one of the tallest double slides around, a slider, a basketball hoop, a swirly slide, and loads more. Plus, there’s Oldies every Wednesday night and live jazz every Thursday night in the big gazebo during the summer. Need a bite to eat? Stop by the nearby pizza joint or get a roti from Brown Sugar, the Trinidadian store a couple blocks up 52nd Street. And there’s lots of grass and big old trees and well-kept benches in what has got to be one of the nicest parks in West Philly.
Philadelphia Playground Project review (10/31/10)
Visited: January 2012
This playground has been hiding right under your nose. You’ve probably walked/biked/driven right past it on 38th Street dozens of times. But have you played on it? We hadn’t until recently. Don’t miss the rock climbing wall with a rope assist. And take in the beautiful murals off to the east.
Philadelphia Playground Project (11/14/10)
Visited: January 2012
This two-in-one playground is above the street grade level so unless you know it’s there, you might miss it if you zoom along Powelton Avenue. To get here, go up the stairs next to the Powel Elementary School off of Powelton Avenue. There’s a raised grassy circular bed in the middle of the playground between the little kids’ playground and the big kids’ playground. Behind the playground area is a large asphalted play area for the school kids. All in all, a well-kept medium-sized playground.
Philadelphia Playground Project review (11/14/10)
Visited: January 2012
A lot of people who go to the Clark Park playground might not know about the Wilson Elementary School even thought it’s almost within spitting distance. And that’s too bad because it’s got double double slides, including one of the tallest in West Philly. Plus, it’s got a cool double helix climber that’s pretty mindboggling and fun balance beams. If you’re a frequent Clark Parker, you owe it to yourself to go check this out sometime. And as long as you’re this far, go play at Comegys, too.
Philadelphia Playground Project (not yet reviewed)
Visited: January 2012
