PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — City officials cut the ribbon on a $380,000 playground renovation in Southwest Philadelphia. But two weeks ago, it was a much different scene.
On May 13, 16-year-old Quamir Mitchell was shot and killed near Deritis Playground, around 57th Street and Grays Avenue. The teen was a star basketball player at West Philadelphia High School.
Marcus Wayley lives a few blocks away from the playground. He said his 16-year-old twins and 10-year-old son have been afraid since the shooting.
“They don’t wanna come outside and really do any social acts in a recreational area,” he said. “You can try to convince them that it’s a nice, new playground, and it is. But the recent murder of that young man is scaring them to not wanna come here.”
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At Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting, City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson — who secured the $380,000 — said he’s pushing for more safety initiatives so young people can play without fear. He hopes the renovation will safely bring back kids to the playground.
“For me, it’s critically, critically important to make sure that we focus our attention on making sure our young people have high-quality places for them to enjoy themselves during this upcoming summer,” he said.
The renovation includes more lighting, cameras and police on site.
Kathryn Ott Lovell, commissioner of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, said children and parents should feel safe in these public spaces.
“We have seen this uptick in violence over the last few months that has, unfortunately, hit us on our doorstep of Parks and Recreation. Too many acts of violence are happening in our city. Too many are happening in our public spaces, in our parks, our playgrounds, on our basketball courts. And this is exactly where we want children to be,” she said.
“Those children and their parents and their grandparents need to feel safe when they come to places like this.”
Wayley and other neighbors seemed hopeful that Johnson’s efforts will help.
“Having some cameras out here, having lighting out here. The uptick of the police presence here at the playgrounds in the area has helped. I hope that that does not stop,” he said.