by Christin Brown | December 16, 2019 | News Releases
The investment will help to provide more than 900 public school students with new learning and active play opportunities in a safe and secure outdoor environment.
Philadelphia, PA, December 13, 2019 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) was joined by State Rep. Jared Solomon at Carnell Elementary School today for the presentation of a $200,388 Pennsylvania grant in support of a new Green Playscape and Community Design project at the school.
Coordinated by the non-profit Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association, the project will transform a barren, asphalt-covered yard adjoining Carnell’s two instructional buildings into a vibrant recreational and educational space with a climbing wall, play surface and mounds, language path, basketball and soccer goals, and other interactive playground equipment.
“This Green Playscape project is a great example of the power of strong public-private partnerships to create positive change in our communities,” Senator Tartaglione said. “The investment we are making here today will help to create an attractive and useful recreational and learning space that will benefit thousands of children for many years to come.”
The grant was administered through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Local Share Account, which distributes a portion of slot machine license fees paid by casinos operating in Philadelphia. OCCCDA Executive Director Pearl Wang-Herrera, Carnell Principal Hilderbrand Pelzer III, and Community Design Collaborative Director of Design Heidi Segall Levy took part in the check presentation ceremony.
“We are so thankful for the DCED LSA funding and are excited to transform the current empty asphalt lot to provide a playground to engage the 900 students at Carnell with creative activities and a safe environment,” Wang-Herrera said.
The conceptual plans include a centrally located mural on the ground and a walking path with images that celebrate the cultural diversity of the student population. Two basketball goals and two soccer goals will be installed with a 15-foot fence bordering the court. Recycled rubber surfaces and mounds will help to demarcate play areas dedicated to younger and older pupils.
In addition, a “rock” wall for climbing and surrounding play surface will enable students to strengthen their body coordination, while ADA-approved ramps and pathways will provide full accessibility to the facility. The total cost of the project will be about $1 million.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | October 19, 2018 | News Releases
Nearly 1,000 Carnell School children and their community will benefit from a more accessible, engaging and welcoming space for active play and learning.
PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 19, 2018 – State Sen. Christine Tartaglione, State Rep. Jared Solomon and City Councilwoman Cherelle Parker joined School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. William R. Hite, leaders of the Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association and the Laura H. Carnell Elementary School community to present $250,000 in state and city funding for the development of much-needed green playspace that will provide nearly 1,000 Carnell students with new learning and active play opportunities.
The green playspace project is a partnership that seeks to transform Carnell’s empty asphalt schoolyard into a more welcoming community-centric space that engages students and families in safe, accessible, creative exercise. OCCCDA partnered with the Community Design Collaborative, along with students and parents, to design the playspace. This funding kicks off the process to bring this multi-phase project to life.
“I am very proud to join with Representative Solomon, Councilwoman Parker, the School District and the community on this project, which will benefit these young learners for many years to come,” Tartaglione said. “In an era when public schools in our cities face many challenges, this partnership is a shining example of what we can accomplish when we work together on the state, local and community levels toward a common goal. That goal is to provide our children with the education they deserve.”
“I am thrilled to be part of this great project team to help bring these kids at Carnell a beautiful new schoolyard,” Solomon said. “This has been a truly collaborative and inclusive process, and the final product is all the stronger because of that. These kids are going to have a great place to play, and I am excited to work with Councilwoman Parker and Senator Tartaglione to make this happen.”
Parker said: “By transforming this empty, asphalt schoolyard into an inviting and vibrant green play space, it will provide a safer, greener, more welcoming environment for our youth and families to actively learn and play. This growing and diverse community deserves a quality space, and it’s a pleasure to team up with Sen. Tartaglione, Rep. Solomon, the District and OCCCDA to help bring this vision to fruition.”
“The School District of Philadelphia is thrilled to have green schoolyards at a growing number of schools across the city, which will soon include Carnell Elementary School,” said Dr. William R. Hite, Superintendent. “Not only will the green space at Carnell provide students the opportunity to play and exercise, but it will also offer a hands-on way for students to learn. These are the types of spaces all students should be able to utilize and we are working to make them more accessible throughout Philadelphia.”
“I believe that all children deserve access to a quality education,” said Anita Lyndaker-Studer, executive director of OCCCDA. “We have been working to support this vision through our Carnell Family Resource Center and are so excited to see the community vision for green play and learning space come to life in the designs from Stantech and the Community Design Collaborative. The DCED Greenways grant has been a true city and state supported initiative with the match provided by Councilwoman Parker and the full support of Representative Solomon and Senator Tartaglione moving the grant through the approval process. The village has truly spoken out on behalf of our children at Carnell and we thank you!”
The conceptual plans include a centrally located ground mural and running path intended to celebrate the cultural diversity of the student population. The basketball courts will include two basketball and two soccer goals and a 15-foot chain link fence behind the goals. Recycled rubber play surfaces and mounds will help to demarcate play areas between the younger and older students.
Additionally, a rock wall and play surface will allow students to strengthen body coordination, and an access pathway and ADA approved ramp will provide greater accessibility.
The total project cost is roughly $1 million. OCCCDA and Carnell are pursuing additional grants from the Philadelphia Water Department to fund stormwater management improvements (rain garden).
For video of the full news conference, visit: https://www.facebook.com/PHLCouncil/videos/321948021931479/
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For additional information contact:
Andrew Dalzell
Office of Rep. Jared G. Solomon
215-342-6340
ADalzell@pahouse.net
Solomon Leach
Office of Councilwoman Cherelle L. Parker
215-686-3455
Solomon.Leach@Phila.gov
