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Plans for Adaire Schoolyard, Fishtown Rec and “Swimmo” Take Shape After Meeting


Public space improvements are currently in the works for Fishtown, as the Adaire Elementary schoolyard, the Fishtown Recreation Center, and the Lederer Pool, commonly referred to as the “Swimmo”, are all slated for redesigns.

The Trust for Public Land (TLP) is overseeing the schoolyard and Rec Center projects in partnership with Philadelphia Water and Parks and Recreation. A meeting was held on May 14th at the Rec where representatives from TLP and the Fishtown Rec Advisory Council met with residents to hear what they wanted to see out of a redesign of this magnitude.

The Adaire project will add green stormwater features, modern playground equipment, and a new site layout to the asphalt schoolyard in addition to a rec center redesign.Adaire School Lot

As we’ve previously reported, plans for the new schoolyard at Adaire have been in the works for quite some time. Discussions started when Council President Clarke promised money to the school in a private meeting about 3 years ago with Adaire’s then principal, Jeannette Oddo. After Clarke was asked to attend a Fishtown Neighbors Association meeting in May 2014 to speak publically on the schoolyard issue, he made his promise for a new schoolyard official.

Adaire School Lot

But Philadephia rules and regulations restricted Clarke from funding the schoolyard directly. When this information was released, a solution was necessary to make the promise happen. The Philadelphia Water Department and the School District of Philadelphia contacted TLP about the dilemma. This is how the Fishtown Recreation Center came into the picture. As a work around, Clarke promised money for renovations to the Fishtown Rec and TPL plans to match that amount to be used on renovations to the Adaire schoolyard.

The Rec has seen better days and much of the equipment there is either broken or not up to code. During the May 14 meeting, Jon Geeting of PlanPhilly reported that residents gave their two cents regarding the Rec’s layout, shade, equipment, fencing, signage and much more.Fishtown Rec

The Rec Center is closely located to other public facilities around E. Montgomery Ave and Thompson street such as the Swimmo, an outdoor covered hockey rink, Fishtown Community Library, the police station, Penn Treaty Middle School, and Adaire Elementary.

Fishtown Rec

According to PlanPhilly, none of the other public properties, including the actual Rec Center building, are part of the Trust for Public Land’s mission. This decision is not sitting well with some neighbors.

Former Fishtown Neighbors Association board member Jill Betters explained in an email to PlanPhilly, “The Swimmo, Penn Treaty Middle School, Fishtown Library, and the Fishtown Rec are co-located; not considering a master plan seems like a tremendous missed opportunity.”Fishtown Rec

However, the Swimmo is currently undergoing a separate redesign. Jen Crandall, public relations manager at Parks and Recreation, confirmed to PlanPhilly that the design process for the pool is underway. The project should be complete sometime in 2017.Fishtown Rec

There will be extensive public outreach for the project in the coming months and the Trust for Public Land, Rec Center staff and volunteers are looking to involve kids in helping to redesign the playground, since they are the primary users of that space.

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