PHILADELPHIA — Throughout 2025, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, the Capital Program Office, and communities across Philadelphia celebrated the completion of 50 public space projects representing more than $150 million invested to transform and update neighborhood public spaces and create economic opportunity for residents and businesses in construction and the building trades.
Rebuild Philadelphia, the City’s flagship public space initiative, drove more than $95 million of that investment through a series of transformative, community-led projects. Through October 2025, Rebuild celebrated eleven completed projects, with two more completed projects expected by the end of 2025.
“Whether you’re a young athlete in South Philly, a student in Kingsessing, or an older adult in Fairhill, every Philadelphian deserves access to safe, clean, and modern public spaces – regardless of socio-economic status or ZIP code,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “When we invest in public spaces, we ensure our community spaces reflect the pride, resilience, and brilliance of the people who use them every day.”
These 2025 milestones represent the culmination of years of community planning and construction across many Philadelphia neighborhoods.
Rebuild Completed Projects:
Kingsessing Recreation Center| $27 million | Before Photos
Stay tuned for a ribbon cutting celebration – coming January!
Rivera Recreation Center & Mann Older Adult Center | $16.8 million | Before & After Photos
Located in the heart of the City’s Barrio Latino, this revitalized 5.4-acre campus features a new boxing gym, pottery and dance studios, computer labs, a natural grass field, green stormwater infrastructure, and a 5,000-square-foot community mural—El Ritmo Del Centro—developed in collaboration with HACE CDC and Creative Philadelphia.
Paschalville Library | $13.2 million | After Photos
The $13.2 million renovation of Paschalville Library restored the historic 1915 Carnegie building with new HVAC, ADA accessibility, and infrastructure upgrades, alongside new community spaces, furniture, and landscaped outdoor areas. The project also introduced a Knight Foundation–funded Media Hub and technology upgrades, blending historic preservation with modern amenities to support workforce development, youth programming, and lifelong learning.
Murphy Recreation Center | $7.5 million | After Photos
In partnership with Live! Casino & Hotel and the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association, Murphy Rec now features new synthetic turf fields, upgraded courts, LED lighting, and modern amenities. Eagles’ legend Ron Jaworski helped mark the reopening with a “Tush Push” and touchdown celebration alongside local youth athletes.
Kingsessing Library | $8 million | Before & After Photos
Built in 1919 and listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, Kingsessing Library underwent major infrastructure upgrades, including ADA access, a new elevator, a community classroom, an outdoor story circle —all while preserving its original architectural charm.
Blanche A. Nixon Library | $8.5 million | Before & After Photos
Lawncrest Library | $4.5 million | Before & After Photos
Cohocksink Recreation Center | $4.5 million | Before & After Photos
Richmond Library | $2.5 million | After Photos
Piccoli Playground | $1.9 million |Before & After Photos
Wynnefield Library | $1.4 million | After Photos
“These transformative projects are made possible through partnerships with community-based organizations, major funders, and the people of Philadelphia,” said Aparna Palantino, Deputy Managing Director, Capital Program Office. “We’re not just renovating facilities – we’re investing in the children, families, and communities that rely on them.”
Parks & Recreation and Library Investments Expand Reach
In addition to Rebuild, the Capital Program Office has completed 39 projects worth more than $60 million to Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Free Library of Philadelphia sites through October 2025.
Completed Projects:
- Dell Music Center – $9.2 M
- Borski Park Phase 1 – $4.2 M
- Schuylkill River Wall Restoration – $5.7 M
- Christy Rec Center) – $4.3 M
- Robert A. Borski Jr Park – $4.2 M
- Parkway Central Library HVAC System – Rare Book Room – $3.8 M
- Kendrick Recreation Center HVAC – $3.7 M
- Nicetown Park – $3.6 M
- Christy Rec Center – $3.0 M
- Winter Street Building Roof Rehabilitation – $2.3 M
- Baker Playground – $1.9 M
- Heritage Playground – $1.8 M
- 26th & Sedgley Warehouse Restoration – $1.5 M
- Murphy Rec Roof Renovations – $1.4 M
In addition to major projects, the City has made progress with court resurfacing, drainage repairs, lighting upgrades, camera installation, and other smaller but vital improvements at dozens of sites, including Strawberry Mansion Pocket Parks, 48th & Woodland Sprayground, Towey Playground, Clayborn & Lewis Building, Norris Square Lighting, Ferko Playground, Houston Playground, Lemon Hill Walkways, Samuels Rec Center, Connell Playground, Cliveden Playground, FDR Baseball Fields, Ryerss Mansion, Pleasant Hill Park, Awbury Rec Center Pickleball Courts, Hawthorne Rec Center Tennis Courts, McCreesh Playground Basketball Court, D. Finnegan Playground Basketball Court, Chew Basketball Courts, Clemente Playground Basketball Court, Disston Park Basketball Court, Cpl. Jimmy O’Connor Playground Fencing & Landscaping, Sedgley & Fletcher Roof Replacement, Carroll Park Playground, Montgomery Avenue Warehouse Roof, and Columbus Square.
Business Support & Workforce Development
Beyond site improvements, the Capital Program Office is creating economic opportunity in the construction industry through workforce development and business support programs available to Philadelphia residents and businesses.
To date, 185 Philadelphians have graduated from Rebuild trade academy programs in carpentry, masonry, cement and & plaster, ironwork, and the finishing trades. These programs are held in partnership with the Ironworkers Local 401 & 405, Cement Masons Local 592, Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 1, the Finishing Trades Institute, Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical College, PA CareerLink®, PowerCorpsPHL, and Eastern State Penitentiary.
Program offerings continue to grow in response to demand, including this year’s addition of the program’s first Cement Masons & Plasterers academy. The success of the programs, with an over 70% placement rate, is built on the City’s partnership with the building trade unions.
“Our work isn’t just about building and renovating City facilities – it’s about building pathways,” said Aiisha Herring-Miller, Program Director, Business and Workforce Development, Capital Program Office. “We’re creating new opportunities for residents and businesses from every neighborhood in the city, because when local businesses win contracts and Philadelphia residents from all neighborhoods gain access to family-sustaining jobs, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant economy.”
The Capital Program Office’s Business Support Program provides technical assistance and mentorship to help local contractors grow and succeed. Support includes guidance on bonding, bidding, back-office operations, and financial management. The program is expanding Philadelphia’s pool of qualified contractors, strengthening the local economy, and helping more businesses become union signatories—opening the door to greater opportunities on public projects.
Rebuild’s Success Stems from a Historic Public-Private Partnership
Rebuild’s ambitious scope is supported by the William Penn Foundation’s historic $100 million funding commitment, the single largest grant in Foundation history and one of the largest private investments in public space in the country. This commitment along with the Philadelphia Beverage Tax funds enabled Rebuild to fundraise an additional $61 million to date from private funders, and state and federal grants.
“At the William Penn Foundation, we believe that high-quality parks, recreation centers, and libraries are essential ingredients for thriving communities,” said Shawn McCaney, Executive Director, William Penn Foundation. “The collective investment of the city, state, and many private funders has impacted communities throughout Philadelphia, and we look forward to more people having access to the public spaces they deserve as we celebrate the completion of even more projects this fall.”
Building One Philadelphia
These 50 completed projects reflect more than just construction progress – they mark a shift in how Philadelphia delivers public investment. The creation of the Capital Program Office by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker brought together experts from across City government to streamline how the City manages construction to deliver capital projects efficiently, on-time and on-budget.
From ribbon cuttings at recreation centers and libraries to union-led workforce academies, this new approach to capital project management is delivering results for Philadelphia residents.
This work embodies the “One Philly” vision in action: city departments, nonprofit partners, private sector partners, philanthropies, contractors, and residents collaborating to deliver tangible improvements to community hubs throughout the city. Every ribbon cutting is more than a milestone – it’s a visible sign of a new, coordinated approach that invests in neighborhoods first and keeps progress moving, one project at a time.
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