61 Philly parks, libraries, and rec centers chosen for Rebuild investment

Rebuild Philadelphia, the $500 million mission to improve Philly’s parks, libraries, and recreation centers, just released the full list of 61 sites it plans to invest in over the next 18 months.

The list and official project statement was submitted Thursday to City Council, which has to make the final approval. Of the 61 chosen sites, there are 23 playgrounds, 19 recreation centers, seven recreation centers and libraries, seven parks, and five libraries scattered throughout Philly.

Rebuild is a cornerstone of Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration. Its goal is to put $500 million toward renovating and rehabbing Philly’s parks, rec centers, and libraries.

“It’s clear that there is need, both community-based and physical, across the city,” said Nicole Westerman, Executive Director of Rebuild in a statement. “This list includes sites of all sizes and types in every part of Philadelphia.”

Courtesy of Rebuild

So how did Rebuild whittle down its list from 400-plus sites to 61? Its priorities included making sure that the sites were located in neighborhoods with high needs and sites with urgent physical needs, and where the projects may have a stabilizing or revitalizing effect.

To find out which neighborhood sites qualified, Rebuild took a look at data including obesity and diabetes rates, poverty, crime, household growth, market analysis, and residential building permits. All of that data is now publicly available at Rebuild’s website via interactive maps.

The announcement is the latest move for Rebuild, which recently announced the list of organizations that qualify as “project users,” and will be able to apply for grants to manage improvements to these sites.

Here’s the full list of every single proposed site for Rebuild. The goal, Westerman said, is forge ahead “as the beverage tax challenge is upheld.” Rebuild will benefit from the city’s soda tax, but those funds have been tied up in litigation.