Continuing a string of recent playground ribbon cuttings across the Northeast, city officials gathered at Moss Playground last week to recognize the $960,000 renovation the site received.
The upgrades include a brand-new playground featuring jungle gyms and swings, new basketball courts, a new cheer pod adjacent to the courts for cheerleaders, outdoor adult fitness equipment, new landscaping and 800 feet of new sidewalk at the Wissinoming playground. The recreation center received a fresh coat of paint inside and outside.
“In the midst of our challenges, I hope our parks, recreation centers and libraries offer us reasons to be thankful,” Mayor Jim Kenney said at the Nov. 24 ceremony.
Kenney thanked Coach Cecil Parsley of Moss Athletic Association for his involvement in the community. Right before the ceremony Parsley hosted a turkey giveaway at the park, the second that week.
“As you can see, the kids here think this is a wonderful situation that we’re in,” Parsley said, referring to kids who were using the play equipment during the ceremony.
Councilman Bobby Henon, 6th District, recalled growing up nearby the park and visiting it frequently to play baseball and basketball.
“We’re not going to wait 30 years anymore in this city to make sure we build up our parks and recreation. We have a system in place and opportunities in place,” he said.
Moss Playground is the latest site in Northeast Philadelphia to be upgraded with funds from the city’s Rebuild initiative. The ribbon cutting follows a ceremony for Roosevelt Playground in October for a $750,000 renovation and a ribbon cutting at Disston Recreation Center in November for a $1.1 million upgrade.
So far, 43 projects have been completed under the initiative, with 65 more currently underway. Project sites in the Northeast that are currently being worked on include Gifford Playground, Hayes Playground, Lawncrest Library, Russo Park and Vogt Recreation Center. ••
