On February 7, 2023, the Cordish Companies celebrated the 2nd Anniversary of Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia with the announcement of a donation of $750,000 to Rebuild Philadelphia towards the major renovation of Murphy Recreation Center, located in South Philadelphia. The contribution will allow Rebuild to finish the $4.5 million project scheduled to be completed in the fall.
The Cordish Companies’ Principal Jon Cordish, Cordish Gaming Group COO Joe Billhimer, and Live! Philadelphia General Manager Craig Clark were joined by Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney; Philadelphia City Councilmembers Kenyatta Johnson and Mark Squilla; Kira Strong, Executive Director of Rebuild; and Kathryn Ott Lovell, Commissioner of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation at a ceremony to announce details of the transformative investment toward a project that will benefit the families and young people of Philadelphia for generations to come.
Proposed site improvements at Murphy Recreation Center include a brand-new turf field for football, baseball, softball, and soccer along with brand-new basketball courts. New sidewalks, fencing, and landscaping round out the planned renovations.
“Live! Philadelphia is proud to partner with Rebuild Philadelphia to help such a worthwhile project to fruition,” said Joe Billhimer, Chief Operating & Development Officer at Cordish Gaming Group. “Murphy Recreation Center has served as a hub for community gathering for decades in South Philly. As a family-owned business, we can appreciate how important it is for families to have a safe place to come together. They deserve the best, and we look forward to going on this transformational journey with them.”
Live! Casino & Hotel opened to the public on February 11, 2021, in the heart of the South Philadelphia Stadium District, making it their mission to (not only) provide a world-class gaming, dining, and entertainment destination but to be a supportive and active member of the community. Two years later, Live! Philadelphia has established partnerships with dozens of regional tourism, business, and non-profit organizations. With the Rebuild donation, total contributions to date top more than $2.3 million in cash and in-kind support.
Rebuild Philadelphia is Mayor Kenney’s visionary initiative to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Philadelphia neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and libraries. Through these investments Rebuild will improve 70-plus public spaces, empower and engage communities, and promote diversity and economic opportunity in the design and construction industries.
