PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia’s Parks and Recreation Department launched a new program Tuesday that aims to accomplish two goals at once — to help small businesses get started or expand, and to activate underused public spaces with programming for young people.
Parks and Rec Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell says that with the new Making Space program, the department will provide free space in recreation centers for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.
“Making Space is fundamentally a social enterprise program, or a way to use business or entrepreneurial methods to help support social change in a community,” Lovell said.
In exchange for the space, the tenants will provide mentorship and business training to the kids who use the rec centers in more conventional ways.
“We will expect them to pay it forward to the young people coming up behind them to teach them and inspire them, and empower them to make their own big ideas a reality,” said Lovell.
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“Our recreation centers are already beloved community hubs. They are places where children and their families feel safe, where they have fun. We believe our recreation centers can do even more. We believe we can make space for big ideas to bust out of here.”
Lovell made the announcement at Athletic Park in Brewerytown, where Serena Beatty, 15, is a counselor but makes t-shirts on the side. She may either try to get space there, or learn from someone who does.
“It’s really so important for young people like myself to have this type of program,” said Beatty.
Through a grant, Making Space will also provide cash prizes to help grow entrepreneurial ideas.
The city will select 10 applicants for the program. People can find the application by clicking here.
The selection process begins this month with the application process running throughout August. The final decision on the 10 chosen entrepreneurs is expected to come in April.