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)

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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.

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Visited: January 2012

This playground is located on the grounds of the Parent Infant Center.  I’m not sure whether it’s technically open to the public, but hey, it’s a playground.  Last year, PIC took down a really big tree, leaving just the stump which they wisely cut off at the same height as a nearby bench.  The last time I was there, the 3′ stump and the bench were the most popular things at the playground.

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Visited: January 2012

This is a quiet, shady playground located near Spruce Street, but you would never know it.  It’s got several nice benches where you can sit and watch your daughter and her friend Clark tear around over and over and over again, laughing the whole time.  It was only on the fifth or sixth visit here that I saw the Sphinx statute.  It certainly adds an aura of mystery to the whole place.

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Visited: January 2012

This is one of those playgrounds that’s probably private, but last summer, Zora and I were hanging out in Saunders Park, right near here, listening to a jazz concert and she saw this playground peaking out over the shrubbery to the north of Saunders Park and, well, I had to take her.  Rowan House is a transitional housing program run by the People’s Emergency Center.  The playground is pretty traditional, except for the chain spider web climber.  That’s a nice touch.

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Visited: January 2012

This small playground is hidden away up the hill from Market Street where the El comes out of the tunnel.  It’s in the valley created by the three 10+ story Westpark Apartment buildings.  The best part of the playground is the sweet blue enclosed tunnel that runs from one platform to the other.

Philadelphia Playground Project review (7/24/11)

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Visited: January 2012

Philadelphia Playground Project reviewed (7/24/11)

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Visited: January 2012

This is one of two playgrounds for Lea Elementary School because Lea is so awesome, it can’t just have one.  It also has four square.  The structure itself is a pretty typical medium-sized playground, but if you’ve ever gone by while school is in session, you would know that the real action is on the basketball courts and the play areas surrounding the playground itself.  Across Spruce Street is a community garden tucked away next to a pair of tennis courts.

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Visited: January 2012

Another great playground with a mix of new equipment and old retro stuff, including a two compartment metal space ship and twin rocking horses.  And when you’re tired of playing on the playground, it offers a beautiful view of the Philly skyline to the east.  This playground is a little hard to find.  You can either come in from Haverford Ave to the north or come in from the south through the Westpark Apartments.

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Visited: January 2012

I don’t know whether this playground has its own name.  It’s located across the street from the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects mosque and is dominated by a colorful mural on the side of a rowhouse.  If you get hungry while you’re here, you have two great options right on Walnut Street: Saad’s and Manakeesh.  Yum!

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Visited: January 2012

This playground is just to the north of the 46th Street El station, up the way from the Aldi’s. It’s got a cool rock climbing wall like they have over at Martha Washington Elementary School.  And the wobbly bridge?  It really wobbles.  I’m not sure it’s supposed to wobble that much, but boy, it sure is a wobbler.  Careful, there.  Don’t worry if you hurt yourself on this playground, since City Health Center #4 is right across the pavement.  Of course, if you’re not already a registered patient, you may need to wait three months for an initial appointment.  (Thanks, Governor Corbett.)

Philadelphia Playground Project review (not yet reviewed)

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Visited: January 2012