An update on the state of our parks (West Philly)

One of the many down-and-out benches at Malcolm X Park (52nd and Pine St.)

Summer 2026 is now in full swing for the city’s student body. Do the resources and amenities available to Philly’s youth reflect a city united in looking after our future leaders?

Funding for the city’s parks and recreation centers has seen slight increases over the years. Amounting to just over 1% of the city’s operating budget. While other departments and aspects of the city may present more visible signs of disarray for the bulk of Philadelphians, the youth immediately feel these affects. Without amenities and activities that are engaging for Philly’s kids, any sense of progress gained over the course of the school year will be lost over the course of summer break. Couple that with the increasing hazard that summer climates present in the city and these spaces become all the more necessary to maintain.

Across the city’s third district the quality of these outlets vary greatly.

Christy Recreation Center

55th and Christian St.’s Christy Recreation Center has seen an uptick in activity and changes in recent years. Renamed after community member Albert W. Christy who took a stance against violence in the 1970s, more recent incidents in the neighborhood have sparked investment. Renovations in 2021 saw improvements to the basketball courts and the addition of an esports gaming room to the center. This all coming after a 16-year-old Kahree Simmons was shot and killed while playing basketball at the park’s courts. 2025 brought a full facelift to the center with a multistage development of new basketball courts, paved activity spaces and a brand new playground.

Clark Park

Baltimore Avenue’s Clark Park remains a hub for outdoor markets and activities in West Philly. Despite this, its playground facilities for young ones are well in need of repairs. Clear hazards are present at both playgrounds on the lower section of the park. For some time, the larger spiral slide has been gated off as the structure is separating and exposing sharp metals. Despite this, many children still climb and utilize the slide unknowingly.

The swingsets throughout are missing bolts to secure them, making it a clear danger for kids and adults to sit and swing on.

Malcolm X Park

Mural of Betty Shabazz (left) and Malcolm X (right) next to the central concourse of the park.

The park that honors slain civil rights leader stands as a carcass of its former self. A walk through the park reveals just about every amenity in need of immediate repair. Along the toddler and larger playgrounds, every other structure seems to lead to nowhere. Kids that still enjoy the jungle gyms do so with the creativity and imagination required of a child stripped of their freedom to experiment.

Trash, needles and hazardous waste remain consistent throughout the 6-acre park, and holes in the playground interior make this space often an accident waiting to occur. Despite its historical and ongoing reputation as a space for radical organizing, the space should largely be a skip for families with small children in its current state.

Many structures in the park, like this one are without purpose.

Debris fill deeply cracked grounds

Upgrades to the park, including a new playground set are in the works. According to the Friends of Malcolm X Park group, construction is set to start this August on the playground. Improvements were concluded via survey and meetings held in 2025. District 3 Councilmember Jamie Gauthier’s office has yet to respond to our request for comment.

Rusted base to broken seat.

48th and Woodland Playground

Swing hooks not properly placed can pinch little fingers.

Kingsessing’s 48th and Woodland playground stands as a well rounded space for play during summer months. A full sized outfield with soccer nets and a baseball diamond are among the highlights. Newly added sprayground by Playful Learning Landscapes makes this site an engaging experience for littles and their caretakers. It features intricate water tables plenty of sprinklers and an emphasis on freshwater habitat learning. The more than $700,000 funded project was spearheaded by Councilmember Gauthier, the William Penn Foundation, and the surrounding community. The project completed during the 2024 summer.

Elsewhere at the park, the playgrounds and basketball courts are lacking major updates and maintenance.

Dome children’s structure with rusted edges and chipped paint.