There are more than 400 neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and libraries in Philadelphia.

They serve as safe spaces for people to learn, play, exercise, and get access to important services. About 90% of these places need investment. Enter Rebuilding Community Infrastructure (Rebuild), a 2018 Philadelphia government initiative to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in these facilities across the city, with funding made possible by the Philadelphia Beverage Tax.

Operated by the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department, Kingsessing Recreation Center, one of the city’s oldest and largest, is among 72 sites selected for investment. Located in Southwest Philadelphia, the 9.2-acre site was originally home to the Belmont Cricket Club. When the club disbanded in 1913, the property was sold to the city. Three years later, the new Beaux-Arts style recreation center designed by city architect Philip H. Johnson opened. In 2009 the property, which includes a public library, was added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 2009. The ornate brick masonry and granite structure contains 32,000 square feet on three floors, with 50 rooms supporting 30+ programs.

The $24,350,000 renovation project breathed new life into the building, with an emphasis on code compliance, life safety, user comfort, energy efficiency, and functionality. Site improvements addressed accessibility, stormwater management, new artificial turf fields, new play structures, new or improved connection pathways, development of other community gathering spaces, and repair of select site structures.

Kingsessing Recreation Center is a lifeline for a neighborhood experiencing crime and gun violence. Its transformation into a 21st century haven for the community was literally a matter of life and death. Community engagement was essential to determine what was most important to the rec center’s users. The process was overseen by Rebuild’s consultant, with support from the design team. There were five public meetings, five unique surveys, 12 stakeholder interviews, and regular meetings with rec center staff. Feedback revealed several key priorities:

• Improved playground and safety features
• ADA accessibility to and within the rec center
• Improved lobby with better lighting and a message board
• Improvements to the lower level and flex space to allow for more programming
• Additional and enlarged bathrooms
• More outdoor seating/gathering options for elders and youths in separate areas

Prior to design, the A/E team conducted a site and building assessment with an associated cost estimate. The team worked with city agency representatives to prioritize the work scope within the construction budget.

The building itself received a new roof, insulation, and windows, making it watertight and more energy efficient. Exterior masonry was cleaned, pointed, and restored, and MEP/FP systems were updated to current standards. ADA improvements, including new elevators and accessible restrooms, were incorporated, and interiors were refreshed with paint and new finishes.

The main entrance lobby features an updated and welcoming space for patrons of the recreation center, with stately colonnades leading the way to the refurbished grand staircase.

The Kingsessing Recreation Center project represents a transformational community-based investment to provide a safe haven for youths, and a unifying neighborhood amenity spanning generations and ethnicities.