MARIA YOUNG / TIMES PHOTO
Thousands of kids were chasing a giant blue gorilla around Pennypack on the Delaware park last Wednesday, but they didn’t have their cellphones in hand.
That is, the 15-foot ape was not a new Pokemon to catch.
Rather, these children from throughout Philadelphia had gathered to pursue a higher and healthier ideal, physical fitness, in the fourth annual Philly Play Summer Challenge. Despite sweltering heat, youths from 30 city recreation centers arrived at the Northeast park by the busload to run a mile-long obstacle course, enjoy a healthy lunch and intermingle with peers from neighborhoods far and wide.
“When we talk about encouraging smarter, better children, fitness is also a part of that,” said Otis Hackney, Philadelphia’s chief education officer and the former principal of Southern High School. “This is a great opportunity for children to go out and play and be kids.”
Philly Play is a nonprofit organization created in 2013 by City Councilman Bobby Henon to supplement programs at the city’s rec centers. There are more than 150 centers listed on the Department of Parks and Recreation web page. Funded by numerous private sponsors from the corporate, commercial, labor, education and nonprofit sectors, as well as public sources, Philly Play places coaches and instructors in rec centers to teach specialty activities. About 3,000 kids have taken part in those “camps” this summer, according to Henon spokeswoman Jolene Nieves Byzon.
Last Wednesday’s single-day challenge at Pennypack on the Delaware was the largest and culminating event of the season.
Philly Play partnered with ABF Mud Run, a Medford, New Jersey-based company that specializes in setting up obstacle courses — with or without mud — for mostly charity events. Last week’s course circled the perimeter of the park and incorporated wall climbs, rope swings, cargo nets, tire tosses and other physical challenges. ABF founder Chad Mason, a former Marine, likens it to a cross between a foot race and the American Ninja Warrior television series.
“It’s designed to push limits physically and mentally,” Mason said.
Each obstacle has varying degrees to accommodate people of different ability levels. The wall climb, for example, has a short wall and a tall wall. The set-up even has accommodations for those with special physical challenges.
Dozens of active duty military and reservists from the Army, Navy and Air Force helped guide the grade school-age youngsters through the challenges. They also brought some heavy-duty equipment including an armored Humvee and cargo carrier for the kids to see, touch and climb on. Recreation department employees, the ABF staff and Henon’s own staff augmented the adult supervision.
At one point during the day-long affair, Henon joined state Reps. Kevin Boyle and Mike Driscoll, as well as Hackney in a lap of the course with one group of kids. After about 20 minutes, Mason sent out a search party for them. There were no medical emergencies, but Philadelphia Fire Department paramedics were in attendance just in case.
According to Henon, Philly Play has grown exponentially since the first year, when it connected with about 100 kids.
“We have more partners involved. Our armed services are here to volunteer, headed by our Under Secretary of the Army, Patrick Murphy. He’s been an incredible partner,” Henon said.
Murphy is a Northeast native, Iraq war veteran and former congressman.
Northeast-based Mission BBQ and Philadelphia Water Ice also joined the party this year. Rather than typical picnic fare, such as hamburgers and hot dogs, Mission served healthier choices: pulled chicken and green beans. Each kid got some water ice for dessert, too.
“Our mission is to teach kids between 7 and 12 how to play healthy and safe and live productive lives,” Henon said. ••
MARIA YOUNG / TIMES PHOTO
A breath of fresh air: Thousands of kids participated in the annual Philly Play Summer Challenge at Pennypack on the Delaware on Wednesday, Aug. 10. Philly Play is a nonprofit organization created in 2013 by City Councilman Bobby Henon to supplement programs at the city’s recreation centers. MARIA YOUNG / TIMES PHOTO
