As regular users of the Francisville Playground are eager for the warmer weather that brings with it a wealth of activities for the park’s busy season, the playground’s new director, JJ Pospiech, is working to make sure their expectations are met.

  Pospiech began his stint as manager of the site in late April, but his involvement with the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation stretches back much farther. With the department for a total of four years, he most recently was only a few blocks away at the Spring Garden neighborhood’s Roberto Clemente Playground at 18th and Spring Garden Sts, behind Waring Elementary School. Before that, his first position with Philly’s Parks and Recreation was at the Lawncrest Recreation Center in the Northeast.

  One of his main goals for Francisville is to increase the participation of parents of children taking part in existing programs. He’d not only like them to see what their kids are doing, but to hear their suggestions on how to improve the programs. He’d also like to hear from all residents about what they think the playground and activity center mean to the community and how they can better serve its residents.

 Pospiech said he came to Philadelphia to attend graduate school at Temple University, working toward a Master’s degree in Athletics and Recreation Management. While there he met a woman from the Parks and Recreation Department. He began working at Lawncrest while still in school and stayed on when he received his degree.

  “I want to get more positive activity around here [and] continue growth in the community,” he said. From his positions at his two previous positions, Pospiech said he found that each community’s character and status determines what programs it needs or would work there. For example, he pointed out that he will not try to develop a basketball program at Francisville Playground because the Police Athletic League already has a youth league focused on that sport.

  But to include expand existing programs or develop new ones, Pospiech said he needs to hear from the people who would benefit from them. “I’m always looking for suggestions for what people want to see here and for volunteers to help out.”

  Increasing total participation in the site is another critical concern and one he successfully addressed at the Clemente Playground, where he said he increased participation in children’s after school programs and summer day camp by 25 percent by reaching out to the community, especially parents, to let them know about existing programs.

  Currently, Pospiech is planning for the Pop-Up pool, which will open in late June. It will be open Monday through Friday from 11AM – 7PM and on the weekends from 1PM – 5PM.

  In addition to regular use hours this summer, the pool will also feature aqua zumba classes for youth and adults and poolside yoga classes. The complete schedule of this season’s special features and adult and children swim times is available at the pools’s web page at http://www.phila.gov/ParksandRecreation/programsandactivities/Pages/FrancisvillePopUp.aspx.

  The summer’s activities will also include day camp for children aged 5 to 12, from July 5 through August 8. The cost is $200 per child. Day camp activities include at least one trip per week to places like Clementon and Dorney Amusement Parks and computer classes. Though schools will be closed, reading classes will also be part of the day camp’s activities. The playground participates in the city’s “Read by Fourth” program, which helps kids behind in reading skills to sharpen them.

  In addition to day camp this summer, a drill team will meet Mondays and Fridays and weekly yoga classes will be offered this summer.

  Also in the summer the popular gardening program will begin anew. As in the past, planter boxes in the tot’s playlot will be planted at the opening of summer camp in July. And new this year will be visits to an urban garden at 1708 Ridge Avenue under the guidance of Urbanstead.

  According own its own website, Urbanstead is a private organization that supports the development of community-driven farm projects in Philadelphia, especially in areas stressed for healthy food. Its goal is to achieve food security for the neighborhoods it addresses and to get Philadelphia youth involved in growing their own food not only a means of providing their families with fresh food but also teaching them about botany and urban garden construction.

  As a new opportunity, Pospiech said he’d like to initiate a kickball league for the summer within the playground wherein teams of Francisville youth forming teams to play against each other.

 In the fall he’d like to do the same thing with flag football.