Expanded PlayStreets return to bring Summer recreation to young people on their doorstep

PHILADELPHIA, July 15, 2021 – PlayStreets, a more than 60-year-old citywide youth meal distribution program, will return bigger than ever this year, bringing safe, fun play to thousands of Philadelphia children right on their block. The Philadelphia Parks & Recreation program is presented in partnership with the Greater Philadelphia YMCA, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the William Penn Foundation, 5 Below, and The Patricia Kind Family Foundation.
This year, PlayStreets will offer young people two healthy meals and a variety of hyper-local recreational opportunities at over 275 residential blocks across the City.
“The expanded PlayStreets program is a wonderful Philadelphia tradition, powered by hundreds of amazing community volunteers who serve as neighborhood site supervisors,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “Year in and year out these unsung heroes make summer a time of fun and joy.”
Thanks to overwhelming philanthropic and community support, the 2021 PlayStreets program will provide a day camp-like experience to thousands of children on the street they call home. Beginning this week, 50 designated “Super Streets” will receive daily programming, including arts and sports tutorials, pop-up dance parties, visits from Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Mural on the Move Program, and portable play landscapes designed to spark creativity and playful learning. Portable Play Landscapes were designed and constructed by local design firm Tiny WPA, and include customized water misters, seesaws, and modular play islands. Super Streets were selected based on geographic diversity and community needs.
An additional 12 locations will take part in the William Penn Foundation-funded Literacy Enhanced PlayStreets, which focuses on playful learning and literacy. These PlayStreets will receive visits and programming from the Free Library of Philadelphia, Faby Youth Philly, and its Play Captains, as well as Mighty Writers and Let’s Go Outdoors. Literacy Enhanced PlayStreets is also supported by the Playful Learning Landscape Action Network and Temple University’s Infant Child Lab.
“We are excited to join Mayor Kenney, and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is bringing the expanded PlayStreets program back to our city’s streets,” said Shaun Elliott, President, and CEO, Greater Philadelphia YMCA. “Healthy activity starts with kids eating and playing together on their block. We know kids are eager to enjoy fresh air, exercise, and togetherness—and we’re eager to support them. Building upon the PlayStreets efforts from last year, the Y is excited to return to the block to give kids new ways to stay active, healthy, and engaged. We are so grateful to the individuals and organizations who’ve offered their support!”
The PlayStreets program is made possible by local residents who volunteer to serve as Playstreet supervisors. Long-time PlayStreet leaders rally their blocks to host a PlayStreet, opening and closing the street to traffic daily, and giving out meals and play items.
The Greater Philadelphia YMCA has fundraised over $500,000 to make this program possible, and has provided trained recreation staff to supervise, train, and mentor the Parks & Recreation youth Play Ambassadors (ages 19-24) who will lead play activities across selected streets.
The funding and in-kind donations made by sponsors in support of PlayStreets will enable each Playstreet to offer a variety of safe play and programming focused on maintaining a safe distance and engaging young people in playful learning.
Dating back to the 1960s, PlayStreets is a Parks & Recreation tradition that allows residents on small, one-way streets to serve free summer meals to youth 18 and under on their streets. Volunteer PlayStreets supervisors close their street to vehicular traffic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each weekday in the summer to serve two meals and provide young people with light recreational activities.
PlayStreets meal program began on June 14 and will run each weekday through the end of August. There is no registration requirement, and meals are served on a first-come, first-serve basis. PlayStreets summer meal sites are available at phila.gov/food.