PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — It’s been nearly two years since Jim Kenney left the Philadelphia mayor’s office, but his signature project is still going strong.
The scent of new wood and fresh paint wafted out on Friday as Deputy Managing Director, Aparna Palantino, opened the door to the large, light-filled gym at Francis J. Myers Recreation Center in Kingsessing.
“They’re putting finishing touches on the project, as we say.”
The 140-year-old stone building, once an orphanage, retains its historic grandeur, but the facilities in and around it are state-of-the-art after a $27 million makeover executed through Rebuild — the program conceived by former Mayor Kenney to renovate city facilities. When Mayor Cherelle Parker took office, she put Palantino in charge of Rebuild and capital projects under the Parks and Recreation and Public Property departments.
“One of the key missions of our office was to deliver projects more efficiently and effectively,” Palantino said.
Palantino said it’s worked. The Myers Recreation Center is one of eight projects expected to be completed next year. It will have new bleachers, a new scoreboard, ample storage, a concession window, and an elevator.
“You know, kids in Philadelphia always look at centers in the suburbs and say, ‘Why can’t we have that?’ and the goal is for those kids to say, ‘Wow, that’s really neat, why can’t we have what Philadelphia has?’"
Rebuild’s private partner, the William Penn Foundation, is pleased with the results. Executive Director Shawn McCaney says the program took a while to get moving, but has hit its stride.
“These are astounding accomplishments, and I guess we would say that we have to keep doing it,” McCaney said.
McCaney says Rebuild’s success has prompted the foundation to commit to funding 100 more public facility improvements over the next 10 years.