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Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse

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Historic site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Smith Memorial Playhouse
Smith Playhouse
LocationPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates39°58′54″N 75°11′44″W / 39.98167°N 75.19556°W / 39.98167; -75.19556
Philadelphia Register of Historic Places
Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse is located in PennsylvaniaSmith Memorial Playground & PlayhouseLocation of Smith Memorial Playhouse in PennsylvaniaShow map of PennsylvaniaSmith Memorial Playground & Playhouse is located in the United StatesSmith Memorial Playground & PlayhouseSmith Memorial Playground & Playhouse (the United States)Show map of the United States

Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse is a free young children's playground near North 33rd Street and Oxford Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, within the borders of Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia magazine awarded it Best Playground of Philly in 2006 and 2008, calling it "a city treasure." The playground was highlighted during a May 2024 episode of the Abbott Elementary television show.

Renovations

Established in 1899 by the wills of Richard and Sarah Smith and designed by architect James H. Windrim, it occupies nearly 61⁄2 acres, and is visited by more than 1000 children per day. From 2003 to 2005, the playground was closed while a citizen's non-profit group began a rejuvenation of its play equipment and landscape, as well as a renovation of its 24,000 sq ft (2,200 m) Playhouse for very young children. The Playhouse underwent an extensive renovation in 2021 to offer additional unique indoor play spaces.

Playhouse

The playhouse is for children 5 and under, with any baby who can play welcome, but accompanied by at least one adult 18 or older.

Playground

Smith Playground

In July 2005, the Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide was reopened, and in August 2006 a new complex of swings called "Swing City" was opened. By 2009, an area about three football fields in size had been redone, and the outside of the Playhouse preserved. On July 31, 2019, a statue inspired by Ora Washington, titled "MVP", was added to the playground. The Giant Slide is 40 feet (12 m) long, 12 feet (3.7 m) wide, 10 feet (3.0 m) high, and 12 children can use it at once. The playground is for children 10 and under, accompanied by at least one adult 18 or older. There is a special play area for very young children.

See also

References

  1. Treacy, Michelle S. (6 July 2009). "Free play at Smith Playhouse". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
  2. "Best of Philly 2008: Playground". Phillymag. Archived from the original on 13 January 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  3. Dobrin, Peter. "'Abbott Elementary' takes a field trip to what might be Philly's best-kept secret". www.inquirer.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse". Fodor's. Random House, Inc. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  5. Anderson, Kelli (January 2007). "Passing the Test of Time: Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse in Philadelphia". Recreation Management. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  6. Saffron, Inga. "Newly renovated Fairmount Park playhouse offers kids serious fun as an antidote to screen time | Inga Saffron". inquirer.com. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
  7. Salisbury, Stephan (14 July 2005). "Historic slide reopens today with new generation of rides". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  8. "Smith Memorial Playground". The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 2006. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  9. Mostovy-Eisenberg, Michelle (10 January 2008). "Playground Still Flourishes as a 'Safe Haven' for Urban Kids". Jewish Exponent. Archived from the original on 23 June 2007. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
  10. "One-of-a-kind statue unveiled at Smith Playground in South Philly". Whyy.org. Retrieved 5 August 2019.

External links

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