City Officials Dedicate Newly Renovated Wister Playground in Germantown
For Immediate Release: August 09, 2016
Published By: Office of the Mayor
Contact: Jennifer Crandall, (215) 683-3586, Jennifer.Crandall@phila.gov
Published By: Office of the Mayor
Contact: Jennifer Crandall, (215) 683-3586, Jennifer.Crandall@phila.gov
Philadelphia – Commissioner of Parks & Recreation Kathryn
Ott Lovell, Councilwoman Cindy Bass and Jane Golden, Executive Director
of the Mural Arts Program, participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to
celebrate recent improvements to Wister Playground in the Germantown
section this morning.
“The renovations here at Wister have truly brought this park and this neighborhood to life,” said Commissioner Ott Lovell. “I’m so glad that we were able to provide the residents and visitors of Germantown the high-quality park they deserve.”
The improvements to Wister playground include new fencing, play structures, site furniture, spray equipment and safety surfacing. It will also serve more people as an inclusive playground, thanks to the incorporation of an ADA-compliant swing.
“I remember what the old Wister looked like,” said Councilwoman Bass. “Now we see what’s here, and I’m just so proud to have been a part of it. We know that we couldn’t have gotten this work done without both Mural Arts and Parks and Recreation.”
The renovations included a mural designed by artist Willis Humphrey with mosaic work by Jonny Buss. The mural was completed by the Guild Program, a program for inmates that provides employment and job training, based on Restorative Justice principles of giving back to the community while learning new skills, funded by the Philadelphia Prison System.
“We are always delighted to partner with the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation department,” said Golden. “Working at Wister Recreation Center has been a wonderful experience; not only have we brought art and beauty to a recreation center, but the people doing the work—members of our Guild re-entry program—have been profoundly changed by the work as well.”
In addition to reviving the outdated play and spray area with state of the art equipment, Wister Playground also received new lighting at the existing football field and enlarged and resurfaced basketball courts.
“The renovations here at Wister have truly brought this park and this neighborhood to life,” said Commissioner Ott Lovell. “I’m so glad that we were able to provide the residents and visitors of Germantown the high-quality park they deserve.”
The improvements to Wister playground include new fencing, play structures, site furniture, spray equipment and safety surfacing. It will also serve more people as an inclusive playground, thanks to the incorporation of an ADA-compliant swing.
“I remember what the old Wister looked like,” said Councilwoman Bass. “Now we see what’s here, and I’m just so proud to have been a part of it. We know that we couldn’t have gotten this work done without both Mural Arts and Parks and Recreation.”
The renovations included a mural designed by artist Willis Humphrey with mosaic work by Jonny Buss. The mural was completed by the Guild Program, a program for inmates that provides employment and job training, based on Restorative Justice principles of giving back to the community while learning new skills, funded by the Philadelphia Prison System.
“We are always delighted to partner with the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation department,” said Golden. “Working at Wister Recreation Center has been a wonderful experience; not only have we brought art and beauty to a recreation center, but the people doing the work—members of our Guild re-entry program—have been profoundly changed by the work as well.”
In addition to reviving the outdated play and spray area with state of the art equipment, Wister Playground also received new lighting at the existing football field and enlarged and resurfaced basketball courts.
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