Ziehler playground: ample playground, could use some shade

Playground: Ziehler
Location: B St at Olney
Date visited: Jun. 17, 2013

Equipment:

• Smaller fenced-in zone with fun "firetruck" jungle gym (with low monkey bars) and a low playset with a tube slide (empties even with the ground), 2 medium straight slides, climbing, "tic-tac-toe" critters, and 4 bucket swings
• Zone for bigger kids with 4 strap swings (1 missing) and a higher playset with six slides (including straight, bumpy, spiral and tube slides, all plastic) and lots of climbing options

Ages: 1-9
Surface: rubbery amid blacktop
Shade(0-3): 0
Water: N
Other: basketball, baseball, and soccer fields; extra blacktop and grassy areas; colorful rec center with covered picnic area, swimming pool
Access: 10-6?

Impressions: This playground is a bit faded and worn (with some loose trash and graffiti), but actually offers reasonable play options for younger frolickers, in a setting of wide grassy ball fields.  Middle school across the street probably generates some weekday traffic, but lots of places for a shady picnic on the weekend.  The thing this space most needs is more shade, and there are several grassy squares in the pavement offering places to start a tree-planting project.

Overall rating: 6

Barrett/Lindley playground: nice spot in North Philly for the smaller kids especially

Playground: Barrett Playground (according to sign onsite; Google map calls it Lindley playground)
Location: 8th and Duncannon (location of playground; large field is on Lindley, at 7th)
Date visited: Jun 17, 2013

Equipment:

• Small kids' zone (fenced in, shady) has a cement turtle (can climb on or under), 4 bucket swings and a small playset with a jointed bridge and three plastic slides (2 straight, 1 curved)
• Bigger playset has 3 tall straight slides (2 plastic, 1 metal), 1 spiral plastic slide, monkey bars, and a fireman's pole
• 4 strap swings near bigger playset
• freestanding "totem pole" water sprayer, surrounded by a cement circle

Ages: 1-11
Surface: rubbery, though dried out/hardened in spots
Shade(0-3): 1 (some in small-kids zone, none in big-kids zone)
Water: Y (see above)
Other: chess tables, extra blacktop, tennis courts, large football field (plus multiple baseball, though seemed largely unused), basketball, small rec center
Access: fenced in, but not sure about hours, presumably standard rec center hours

Impressions: Nice spot for little kids, with a deeply shady protected corner of the park.  Decent offering for older kids, but the equipment gets no shade from the many trees (although the swings do) and the raggedy ground surfaces and occasional trash and graffiti detract a bit from the experience.  Basically fine, with a relatively quiet residential setting, but not a draw from any distance

Overall rating: 7

A little playspace between rowhouses and industrial stretches in Brewerytown

Playground: Unnamed
Location: Jefferson at 30th
Date visited: 7/27/13

Equipment: Two zones, close together but fenced:

• The playset is large and meandering, which is fun in itself. It includes two high slides (straight and spiral) and one lower (curved), all metal; a solid bridge; crawl-through hoops and store window underneath (+ small bench). There is also a set of "stepping stone stools" here.
• The second "room" of the playspace has swings: 4 strap and 2 bucket. This also opens onto a lot of extra grassy area, including a great hill for rolling or running down.

material: modern resin/metal; space: small
Ages: 1-10
Surface: rubbery
Shade(0-3): 0
Water: N
Other: nice basketball courts, baseball diamond
Access: not marked (dawn to dusk?)

Impressions: A little corner space nicely divided up into quadrants for play and sports. Beter-than-average playset, given the space, but the playground could use some love, especially on the trash-containment and graffitti-fighting fronts. (Lack of signage may result from this being a private undertaking -- maybe an Eagles project? -- so not under city oversight.) All-metal slides were hot on a sunny day, but the grassy hillside is very enticing!
Overall rating: 6

A playspace in the gap between Temple and Girard colleges: M. L. King Rec Center

Playground: King playground
Location: On Cecil B. Moore Ave between 21st and 22nd
Date visited: 7/27/13

Equipment: One zone with several components:

• A tall playset with two tall plastic slides (bumpy and spiral), a jointed bridge, etc. There are 4 strap swings nearby.
• A smaller playset with a straight metal and a curved plastic slide, solid bridge, tic tac toe animals, etc. There are two bucket swings nearby.
• A water zone = a cement circle with a pole that mists in all directions.
• Not official play equipment, but inviting: a long series of low walls to walk along.

material: modern resin + metal; scale of space: med/large
Ages: 1-8
Surface: rubbery/blacktop
Shade(0-3): 0
Water: Y
Other: picnic tables (one missing its top), basketball, another fenced cement area (handball? hockey?), ball fields (baseball and football), swimming pool, extra grass, large rec center (partially serving as an adult/seniors building)
Access: dawn to dusk?

Impressions: Perfectly adequate equipment for neighborhood play, but nothing to go out of your way for (unless you plan to swim). Nice grassy fields for a ball or frisbee break.
Overall rating: 6

Jerome Brown playground: bounty of fun in Nicetown

Playground: Jerome Brown playground
Location: 20th and Ontario
Date visited: 3/17/13

Equipment:

• low playset: solid meandering bridge, low metal slide, low-angle climbing wall, metal rope net for climbing
• high playset: vertical climbing wall (2 types), circle of monkey bars, zip lines, single and double metal slides
• four strap and two bucket swings
• free-standing modern bar teeter-totter (half-broken)
• free-standing set of 3 fireman's poles w/arched ladders

Ages: 1.5-11
Surface: rubbery
Shade(0-3): 2
Water: N
Other: basketball court, grassy hill, extra blacktop, square and regular picnic tables, colorful decorated rec center, Septa and Amtrak trains run right next
Access: 6 AM-10 PM

Impressions: Recently renovated playground makes good use of a small space with a variety of challenges for all ages.  Looks likely to be shady and cool in summer, nice neighborhood setting, and the occasional passing train is fun to watch
Overall rating: 8 (maybe 9?)

Panati: appealing reclamation project in need of another round of reclaiming

Playground: Panati Playground
Location: 22nd and Clearfield
Date visited: 3/17/13

Equipment:

• low playset with two plastic slides (straight and curved)
• four bucket swings
• curved ladder/climbing structure
• wall to walk on

Ages: 1-3
Surface: rubbery/blacktop
Shade(0-3): 0-1
Water: N
Other: rec center, basketball court, communal garden plots

Impressions: This space abutting the hulk of an old manufacturing plant has been lovingly reclaimed by the community and is awash in nice murals and colorful benches, bricks, and other elements.  However, there are signs of neglect and disrepair, including large empty spaces where clearly there once was play equipment; what remains is of interest to only the smallest kids (0-3).  Perhaps when more of the industrial spaces are reclaimed/renovated this play space will get some new equipment and a little love.
Overall rating: 5 (for littles only)

Shuler: playground and athletic fields on the western edge of North Philly

Playground: Shuler Playground
Location: 27th btw. Clearwater and Indiana (just S of Allegheny Ave.)
Date visited: 3/17/13

Equipment:

• 2 low space pods separated/joined by path/bridge
• low playset with straight metal and curved plastic slides and extra climbing
• 2 pelican hobby horses
• 4 bucket swings
• higher playset with 2 straight metal slides, solid bridge, miscellaneous climbing, fireman's pole

Ages: 1-8
Surface: rubbery/blacktop
Shade(0-3): 0
Water: N
Other: hopscotch, basketball, baseball, swimming pool, soccer/football field (?), recreation center
Access: 6 AM-10 PM

Impressions: Decent play equipment in decent shape with additional playspace, but nothing to draw visitors from outside the neighborhood (and seems like it would be hot on a sunny summer day).  Might or might not get traffic from the school across the street.
Overall rating: 7

Belfield playground: range of options for smaller kids

Playground: Belfield Rec Center
Location: Conlyn St. and 21st St.
Date visited: 5/14/13

Equipment:

• Small play-set = wide metal slide, coil ladder, tunnel ladder, platforms
• Small play-set = small spiral plastic slide, 2 small side-by-side plastic slides, bridge, 2 ladders (coil, quarter-barrel)
• Medium play-set = spiral plastic slide, monkey bars (curving), hanging bar, 2 ladders (straight, curved), shop counter
• 4 strap swings (a bit squeaky, one wrapped when visited), 4 small bucket swings
• 3 rocker animals (don't rock)

Ages: 1-7
Surface: Rubberized by play-sets, blacktop between
Shade(0-3): 2
Water: N (well, there's a pool)
Other: Pool, basketball counrts, rec center (other end of block), rest room building (I think?), baseball field across Conlyn St.
Access: Gated (so presumably standard rec center hours)

Impressions: Decent for smaller kids, with 3 play-sets to choose from, but tired-looking, and little to interest or challenge most kids over 7.  Nice trees partially compensate, but a facelift would be nice (with more climbing options...)

Overall rating: 6

Kemble Park: just swings

Playground: Kemble Park
Location: W Olney Ave at Ogontz Ave.
Date visited: 5/14/13

Equipment: 2 bucket swings, 2 strap swings, used to be more?

Ages: 1-4
Surface: Rubbery wood chips
Shade(0-3): 0
Water: N
Other: Basketball courts (1-1/2), big park, many trees, kitty-corner from Central High School, which maybe doesn't translate to much, except on a lovely day, near dismissal time, an ice cream truck shows up

Access: Open (public park)
Impressions: Lovely setting, but, um, it's just swings!

Overall rating: N/A; it's just swings

Young Rec Center: A tot playground in East Germantown

Playground: Young Recreation Center (Google maps also calls it East Germantown Rec Center)
Location: E. Chelten Ave near Ardleigh Ave.
Date visited: 5/14/13

Equipment:

• Small play-set = 2 small straight metal slides, mesh tunnel, 2 sets of steps, ladder, shop counter
• Another small play-set = small straight metal slide, 2 small ladders, step ladder, pair of connected megaphones (which actually work!)
• 4 strap swings, 4 bucket swings

Ages: 1-4
Surface: rubberized around play-sets
Shade(0-3): 1
Water: N
Other: 2 baseball fields, recreation center, basketball court
Access: Gated (so presumably subject to rec center hours)

Impressions: Decent equipment for smaller kids, and all in pretty good shape as well.  Setting is pleasant, being inside a block-sized set of fields.  But there's too little here to hold the interest of older kids, and even for smaller kids, it's really only a snack -- nice to have two play-sets for their age range, but neither is as extensive as the typical Philadelphia play-set.  The recreation center looks like a substantial one, so would seem natural to have a bit more extensive playground partnered with it.

Overall rating: 5 (for younger kids; not recommended for bigger kids)

Sturgis Playground: a great Oak Lane space with too little playground

Playground: Helen Sturgis playground
Location: W 65th Ave and 2nd St.
Date visited: 6/16/12

Equipment:

• Small playset with miscellaneous climbing, fireman's pole, straight metal slide (wide) and pair of plastic slides.  Room for 5 bucket slides but all missing
• Medium playset with miscellaneous climbing and 1 tall wavy plastic slide, solid bridge, 3 tic-tac-toe games, and 3 strap swings (plus space for one more but not even chains present)

Ages: 1-7
Surface: rubbery surrounded by blacktop
Shade(0-3): 3 (very shady)
Water: Maybe?  Sprinkler seemed to be present, but drain clogged when visited so it was just a swamp  
Other: lots of grass with mature trees, basketball, small rec center, baseball and/or football?, soccer  
Access: 6 AM-10 PM

Impressions: Lovely shaded setting surrounded by tree-filled lawn and athletic fields, in a tidy and attractive neighborhood, so it deserves better than its current underwhelming play offerings.  The area designed for older kids offers nothing for anybody over 6 or 7 (despite it being posted as for ages 5-12), and has empty space where a couple of newer pieces could easily change that.  The little kid zone has no swings and a swamp of broken sprinkler space (which also needs a surrounding wall), although the playset there is adequate.  A playground in need of Councilmanic attention!  (or local school partner...)

Overall rating: 4

Olney Rec Center: sports fields galore, and a fun playground too

Playground: Olney Recreation Center
Location: Spencer St. & A St., just east of Front St.
Date visited: 6/16/12

Equipment: Two zones (one on each side of rec center)

• Small kids' zone: 3 bucket swings, 1 strap swing, low climbing playlet with jointed bridge, low metal slides (one single, one double (with end too far off ground...))
• Bigger kids' zone: impressively large, with spiral metal slide and three straight metal slides, high solid bridge, long stretch of monkey-bar rings (plus a short stretch under the bridge, though some missing there), many climbing apparatus including 2 submarine-style, metal "rope-net", fireman's pole, bench underneath, footstools

Ages: 1-12
Surface: rubbery surrounded by blacktop
Shade(0-3): 0 (recently-cut large tree in small kids' zone removed only shade source)
Water: Maybe? (there's a spaceship-like structure with a drain surrounded by cement walls, but no obvious spray nozzle visible)
Other: grassy park, rec center, basketball, tennis, baseball (near and far off), football, concession stand, mural (from era preceding Mural Arts Program)
Access: open access, so presumably dawn to dusk

Impressions: Great setting in a large open space with long vistas and broad expanses of grass, nice equipment in good shape, little trash.  Good for a range of ages, maybe in combination with a picnic.  Clearly lots of athletic league and activities here, probably a big neighborhood draw, worth a stop if you're in the area.

Overall rating: 8

Cherashore Playground: in SEPTA's shadow in Fern Rock

Playground: Cherashore Playground
Location: at a dead end on W. Chew, east of 10th St.
Date visited: 6/16/12

Equipment:

• Zone for smaller kids has climbing and 3 straight slides (double plastic, single metal), 3 kinds of tic-tac-toe, 6 bucket swings (1 broken), and a cement whale for clambering
• Zone for bigger kids has a stretch of curved monkey bars, solid bridge, plastic spiral slide, straight metal slide, and 3 strap swings (room for 2 more with no swings or surfacing)

Ages: 0-12
Surface: rubbery/blacktop
Shade(0-3): 3 (little kids' zone)/ 0 (big kids' zone)
Water: N
Other: baseball field (with active little league on day visited), basketball courts, tennis, rec center, hopscotch
Access: 6 AM-10 PM

Impressions: Big space, with a decent mix of play equipment in a little residential slice near the giant Fern Rock SEPTA transport center.  Easy to park on the dead-end road, and playground offers a shady end as respite on a hot day, but nothing to draw anybody from a distance unless the sight of idle Broad Street subway cars nearby is a lure.  

Overall rating: 6

Some fun innovations: Veteran's playground

Playground: Veteran's Playground
Location: Cumberland between 8th and 9th (both of which go the opposite of their downtown directions!); parking lot on 9th
Date visited: 3/10/12

Equipment: Several pieces scattered around the play area:

• Swings = 4 bucket and 4 strap
  
• A set of "stepping stone" stools
  
• A round vertical gong-shaped climber with rubbery ropes
  
• A lower playset with "milk crate" steps and other climbing (including "barrel stave" style), a solid bridge, 2 straight metal slides (around 3ft high), and one of those pipe "intercoms" that actually works!
  
• Higher playset has a neat "submarine lookout" rubbery net ladder, one solid and one jointed bridge, 2 straight metal slides (around 4 and 4 ft high), a fireman's pole, and a curved stretch of monkey bars

material: modern; scale of space: medium
Ages: 1-11
Surface: rubbery around equipment; blacktop elsewhere
Shade(0-3): 1
Water: N
Other: basketball, indoor swimming pool, picnic tables (each broken to some degree), painted blacktop games, big rec. center (including a preschool on the far side)
Access: not posted (dawn to dusk? 6am - 10pm?)

Impressions: Cute and creative playground in the midst of a larger sprawling rec. center complex (and across from a school). A couple of things we haven't seen before, but could use a little upkeep of picnic tables and loose trash.
Overall rating: 8

In need of upkeep? Eagles Youth Village playground

Playground: Eagled Youth Village Park
Location: 10th between Arizona and Dakota
Date visited: 3/10/12

Equipment: Two playsets fairly close together in a corner park:

1. Higher playset has climbing, 2 tall straight plastic slides, *lots* of monkey bar variants, and a fireman's pole
   
2. Smaller is a gazebo with miscellaneous climbing, a chain "rope net," and a straight plastic slide (that ends high off the ground)

material: weathered "modern"; scale of space: small
Ages: 3-10
Surface: rubber tire "wood chips" and grass elsewhere
Shade(0-3): 0
Water: N
Other: grassy areas, colorful mosaic sculptural elements
Access: open lot

Impressions: Nice use of an empty lot to provide play equipment and grass for neighborhood kids, but equipment very weathered and abused, and slides end too high off the ground for smaller toddlers. Some cheery blue benches or tables had been broken to bits and splintered boards left lying around, and the wood chip depth seemed insufficient either to cover the canvas underneath or to make the heights of the equipment appropriate. Lack of swings another drawback.
Overall rating: 5

New and creative: 12th and Cambria Playground

Playground: 12 & Cambria Playground
Location: 12 Street between Cambria and Indiana
Date visited: 3/10/12

Equipment: Several pieces in a medium space:

• Small playset has good types of climbing, a solid bridge, 2 straight metal slides, and a bench underneath
  
• Larger playset has miscellaneous climbing, a stretch of modern spinning monkey bar rings, tall metal slides (1 straight and 1 spiral), toddler bits underneath (bench, shop window, crawl-through hoop), and a section of funky pyramidal rope climbing net
  
• A row of raised "stepping stone" platforms
  
• Swings = 4 strap + 4 bucket

material: modern resin & metal (except rope tangle)

Ages: 1-12
Surface: rubbery around equipment; cement elsewhere
Shade(0-3): 1
Water: N
Other: pool, basketball, baseball field, chess tables, rec. center
Access: fenced, but no signs

Impressions: Colorful and varied equipment looks brand new and very inviting, and offers fun for a range of ages. Worth a visit, especially for anybody with enthusiastic climbers, since the rope tangle can offer novel challenges to various skill levels. Will be nice when the new trees are large enough to offer more shade... Some blowing trash.
Overall rating: 8-9

Fotterall Square: a play-snack in Glenwood

Playground: Fotterall Square
Location: full block between Cumberland and York (N-S) and 11th and 12th (E-W)
Date visited: Nov. 20, 2011

Equipment:

• One playset, very worn but functional: miscellaneous climbing (including chain "rope net" style), high and low metal slides, stretch of monkey bars
• Nearly swingset with 2 strap and 2 bucket swings (and room for 1 more of each)
  

Ages: 1-10
Surface: rubbery, surrounded by cement and grass
Shade(0-3): 0
Water: N
Other: cement circle, basketball, baseball field, grassy areas, paths, picnic tables (near Cumberland), additional play area visible across 11th between the PHA towers (not clear if it's public or not)
Access: open square (dawn to dusk?)

Impressions: Pretty good variety for a single small set, nice grassy park with old trees, sandwiched between elevated train tracks and a pair of tall PHA towers. Manages to feel nice, but wouldn't draw you from anywhere outside the neighborhood.
Overall rating: 6

Penrose: climbing-rich playground just north of Temple

Playground: Penrose
Location: Susquehanna between 11th and 12th
Date visited: Nov. 20, 2011

Equipment:

• Single wandering playset (3-4 ft) with miscellaneous climbing (lots!), solid bridge, and 1 straight metal slide
• Higher playset (4-6 ft) on other side of building with lots of climbing, medium-height monkey bars, fireman's pole, very tall metal slide
• (Used to be a swingset with 4 swings, now all missing)
  

Ages: 1-9
Surface: rubbery surrounded by blacktop
Shade(0-3): 1
Water: N
Other: rec center, grassy area, tennis, basketball courts, pool
Access: not marked

Impressions: Well-worn but pleasantly varied play equipment. Hard to keep an eye on both spaces at once, for families with well separated ages, but reasonably fun in both spaces (especially for climbers!)
Overall rating: 7

Fairhill Square: smallish playground in a nice park

Playground: Fairhill Square
Location: Huntingdon between 4th & 5th
Date visited: Nov. 20, 2011

Equipment:

• Small broad playset with lots of climbing, 1 short metal slide
• Higher playset w/climbing, solid bridge, stretch of monkey bars, and 4 slides (1 tall, 2 medium, and 1 lower)
• 4 strap and 2 bucket swings
  

Ages: 1-8
Surface: rubbery, surrounded by cement and grass
Shade(0-3): 1
Water: N
Other: large park with older trees and lots of space (when visited, all but the playground was fenced off for some renovation project); nearby elementary school, which presumably may use the park at times.
Access: open park (dawn to dusk?)

Impressions: Nice-looking but under-inspired group of equipment offers little for the very youngest or oldest kids, but it perfectly fine for medium kids to blow off a little steam. In pretty decent shape -- some graffiti, no trash, when visited.
Overall rating: 6 (may be improved by the return of large grassy areas...)

McGuire Playground: rambly fun tucked away in Fairhill

Playground: McGuire

Location: Mascher St., just north of Lehigh Ave.

Date visited: 10/1/11

Equipment: 1 large rambly playset with many elements:

• low jointed bridge and 3 short solid bridges
• 4 metal slides = 1 medium straight, 1 high spiral, 2 small straight pairs
• lots of climbing, including submarine-style tube climbing
• monkey bars (6 feet up)
• metal climbing rope net
• a few low stools under the playset
• fireman's pole

Used to be 6 swings, but all missing

Ages: 2-10

Surface: rubbery surrounded by blacktop

Shade(0-3): 0

Water: N

Other: handball court, basketball (hoops but no nets)

Access: (not posted)

Impressions: Jumble of platforms and ladders is appealing despite its Impressionistic patina of graffiti. Playground needs some attention (chunks of rubbery surface missing, some rust spots on equipment, missing swings), but we had a good time there on a cool fall morning and suspect others would too.

Overall rating: 7