Adaire Schoolyard Revitalization Project
The Adaire Schoolyard Revitalization Project is the effort to transform the schoolyard of the Alexander Adaire K-8 Public School at Thompson and Palmer in Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA, from an asphalt expanse to something much more. We Friends of Adaire are THRILLED to celebrate the realization of this long-held dream, with the schoolyard opening Sept. 29, 2017, and the Grand Opening Celebration on Oct. 18th! The story of how it came together can be seen in words and pictures below. For more information about the Friends of Adaire Schoolyard Advisory Team, go here.
Want to join our efforts? Sign up here! Want to contribute to the Phase 2 Planning Process? Fill out Part 1 and Part 2 of our volunteer form!
Want to join our efforts? Sign up here! Want to contribute to the Phase 2 Planning Process? Fill out Part 1 and Part 2 of our volunteer form!
Scroll down below the slideshow for a narrative of the progress so far!
A history of Friends of Adaire's efforts to transform the Adaire schoolyard
Friends of Adaire joined this effort in 2013, when then-Principal Jenette Oddo identified the schoolyard as her key priority. Principal Oddo met with Council President Darrell Clarke, in whose district Adaire sits, and secured a promise of funding. Friends of Adaire Communications Chair Denis Devine volunteered to call the Council President's office about that promise, and that's how he accidentally came to spearhead this project for Friends of Adaire.
Thanks to the Fishtown Neighbors Association's then-President Kate Micklow Harwan, Council President Clarke spoke to the Fishtown community on May 15, 2014, at a FNA meeting and said: "I can tell you right now that we, the city, is fully prepared and fully committed to funding the new playground at Adaire. That's your tax dollars, and I can say that to you right now."
In early June 2014, Friend of Adaire Becky White Newgren enlisted Adaire neighbor Ian Smith, principal of Ian Smith Design Group and one of the most sought-after architects in Philadelphia, to lead our design process on a pro bono basis; eternal thanks, Ian!
Two months later, on July 24, 2014, Clarke convened an on-site meeting of key players from Adaire and various city departments that would be tasked with making his promise a reality. That was the formal launch of the effort to transform the schoolyard.
Principal Anna Jenkins came on board in August 2014 and fully supported the work to transform the schoolyard, and proceeded to lend considerable time and effort to the project. The Philadelphia Water Department, already working with the nearby Horatio B. Hackett school and several schools throughout the city on schoolyard transformation projects, was the early key partner in the planning process.
Devine, Smith, and other Friends of Adaire collaborated on preparing and leading a series of Schoolyard Visioning Sessions, held at three different times to enable people with different availabilities to attend. They were on Tues., Sept. 30; Thursday, Oct. 9th; and Sat., Oct. 18th. We made use of materials created and provided by Friends of Hackett architect Micah Hanson, a big help. An online survey was also circulated in late September and even printed out and distributed to Adaire students, who provided a lot of feedback. Based on that input, as well as guidance from the Water Department, School District, Home & School Association, Council President Clarke's office, and Philadelphia's Department of Public Property, Smith created a schoolyard design that incorporated the top priorities identified by Adaire stakeholders in a fresh, bold, and DOABLE design.
Smith's design in hand, initial work -- geotechnical and hydrological surveys done by Gilmore & Associates, a subcontractor working for the Water Department -- began on the schoolyard in early February 2015. A team of key players met at the Water Department in February, reviewing Smith's design and mapping out next steps.
Around this time, two key volunteers joined Devine and Smith on the Friends of Adaire Schoolyard Advisory Team, both close neighbors of Adaire: Nate Hommel, Director of Planning & Design for the University City District; and Kate Zmich, Director of Programs & Fun for Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse.
On Saturday, April 25th, Comcast Cares Day brought hundreds of volunteers to Adaire, transforming, cleaning, and painting the school inside and out. Included in that day's work was a snazzy new blue paint job for the perimeter of the school building and an ArtSphere mural on the outside of the kindergarten classroom.
A key meeting took place on May 28, 2015, at Adaire. Principal Jenkins selected Nu Edge playground equipment from the two choices identified by Francesco Cerrai of Philadelphia's Department of Public Property. The siting of a new electrical transformer changed, thanks to input from Principal Jenkins and other members of the team.
Erin Hughes of the Water Department completed 30% design plans on August 12, 2015.
Friends of Adaire met with representatives from the Philadelphia Water Dept., the School District, Home & School, Adaire teachers, and Principal Jenkins on Friday, Oct. 16, to review the "70% design plans" Erin Hughes of PWD created. Those stormwater plans were then reviewed by PECO, PWD, and other agencies with a stake in any construction project, as well as a team of expert reviewers.
On November 13, 2015, Erin Hughes led the first science class at Adaire incorporating the stormwater runoff designs she created for the schoolyard. This science class was facilitated by Friends of Adaire Special Projects Coordinator Edyta Zielinska.
On November 18, 2015, the first meeting focused squarely on the electrical upgrade coming to Adaire took place. At this meeting, the placement of the electrical transformer on the schoolyard was finalized.
After weeks of negotiation, the Trust for Public Land took on Adaire as a project in November 2015. The money promised by Council President Clarke was rerouted to the Fishtown Recreation Center, while the Trust for Public Land and School District agreed to fund the Adaire Schoolyard Redesign.
On February 3, 2016, Friends of Adaire hosted a public update at the Fishtown Recreation Center about the schoolyard project, introducing Trust for Public Land to the community. Trust for Public Land’s Danielle Denk and Philadelphia Department of Public Property’s Francesco Cerrai joined FoA’s Denis Devine in presenting to an enthusiastic crowd. We got some nice news coverage out of it.
On June 9, 2016, Trust for Public Land’s Danielle Denk presented about the schoolyard project as part of Principal Anna Jenkins’ second annual end-of-the-year update at the Fishtown Rec.
On August 18, 2016, the School Reform Commission approved a “limited joinder” to the sub grant agreement between Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC). TPL was awarded a Stormwater Management Incentives Program (SMIP) grant by the Philadelphia Water Department for the design and installation of green stormwater management practices at the school.
On September 9, 2016, the Philadelphia Inquirer published the first of two Trust for Public Land legal notices soliciting bids for constructing the Adaire schoolyard project.
October 7, 2016, was the deadline for bids to be submitted. Trust for Public Land received three bids, and would negotiate a contract with the low bidder, Rockport.
In November, three data collectors trained by Trust for Public Land (including FoA Schoolyard Team members Denis Devine and Kate Zmich) measured how many people were using the schoolyard in which ways on several days.
On November 15, 2016, the School Reform Commission approved the Adaire Schoolyard Project!
On January 9, 2017, Friends of Adaire organized a construction logistics meeting in the Adaire library at which the Trust for Public Land and Philadelphia Water Department representatives briefed immediate neighbors about what to expect when the project breaks ground.
On February 21, 2017, Adaire hosted the Adaire Schoolyard Groundbreaking Celebration! Mayor Jim Kenney, City Council Darrell Clarke, Managing Director Michael DiBerardinis, Schools Superintendent Dr. William Hite, Water Department Green Stormwater Infrastructure Manager Jessica Brooks, and Trust for Public Land NJ/PA State Director Anthony Cucchi, Principal Anna Jenkins, many journalists, students, teachers, neighbors, and Friends of Adaire to celebrate the start of construction of a transformed schoolyard. Adaire students trained by The Rock School of Dance wowed the crowd with their hip hop ballet, and then, after some speeches, the ceremonial dirt was ceremonially turned to signify the ground was broken. Hooray! The media took notice.
Construction by Rockport and its subcontractors continued throughout the winter and spring of 2017. Major construction was completed on June 24th. A substantial completion inspection walkthrough took place on July 12, 2017, and a final walkthrough took place on Sept. 20, 2017. Rockport took the fences down on Sept. 29, 2017, and a Grand Opening Celebration is scheduled for Oct. 18, 2017.
Thanks to the Fishtown Neighbors Association's then-President Kate Micklow Harwan, Council President Clarke spoke to the Fishtown community on May 15, 2014, at a FNA meeting and said: "I can tell you right now that we, the city, is fully prepared and fully committed to funding the new playground at Adaire. That's your tax dollars, and I can say that to you right now."
In early June 2014, Friend of Adaire Becky White Newgren enlisted Adaire neighbor Ian Smith, principal of Ian Smith Design Group and one of the most sought-after architects in Philadelphia, to lead our design process on a pro bono basis; eternal thanks, Ian!
Two months later, on July 24, 2014, Clarke convened an on-site meeting of key players from Adaire and various city departments that would be tasked with making his promise a reality. That was the formal launch of the effort to transform the schoolyard.
Principal Anna Jenkins came on board in August 2014 and fully supported the work to transform the schoolyard, and proceeded to lend considerable time and effort to the project. The Philadelphia Water Department, already working with the nearby Horatio B. Hackett school and several schools throughout the city on schoolyard transformation projects, was the early key partner in the planning process.
Devine, Smith, and other Friends of Adaire collaborated on preparing and leading a series of Schoolyard Visioning Sessions, held at three different times to enable people with different availabilities to attend. They were on Tues., Sept. 30; Thursday, Oct. 9th; and Sat., Oct. 18th. We made use of materials created and provided by Friends of Hackett architect Micah Hanson, a big help. An online survey was also circulated in late September and even printed out and distributed to Adaire students, who provided a lot of feedback. Based on that input, as well as guidance from the Water Department, School District, Home & School Association, Council President Clarke's office, and Philadelphia's Department of Public Property, Smith created a schoolyard design that incorporated the top priorities identified by Adaire stakeholders in a fresh, bold, and DOABLE design.
Smith's design in hand, initial work -- geotechnical and hydrological surveys done by Gilmore & Associates, a subcontractor working for the Water Department -- began on the schoolyard in early February 2015. A team of key players met at the Water Department in February, reviewing Smith's design and mapping out next steps.
Around this time, two key volunteers joined Devine and Smith on the Friends of Adaire Schoolyard Advisory Team, both close neighbors of Adaire: Nate Hommel, Director of Planning & Design for the University City District; and Kate Zmich, Director of Programs & Fun for Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse.
On Saturday, April 25th, Comcast Cares Day brought hundreds of volunteers to Adaire, transforming, cleaning, and painting the school inside and out. Included in that day's work was a snazzy new blue paint job for the perimeter of the school building and an ArtSphere mural on the outside of the kindergarten classroom.
A key meeting took place on May 28, 2015, at Adaire. Principal Jenkins selected Nu Edge playground equipment from the two choices identified by Francesco Cerrai of Philadelphia's Department of Public Property. The siting of a new electrical transformer changed, thanks to input from Principal Jenkins and other members of the team.
Erin Hughes of the Water Department completed 30% design plans on August 12, 2015.
Friends of Adaire met with representatives from the Philadelphia Water Dept., the School District, Home & School, Adaire teachers, and Principal Jenkins on Friday, Oct. 16, to review the "70% design plans" Erin Hughes of PWD created. Those stormwater plans were then reviewed by PECO, PWD, and other agencies with a stake in any construction project, as well as a team of expert reviewers.
On November 13, 2015, Erin Hughes led the first science class at Adaire incorporating the stormwater runoff designs she created for the schoolyard. This science class was facilitated by Friends of Adaire Special Projects Coordinator Edyta Zielinska.
On November 18, 2015, the first meeting focused squarely on the electrical upgrade coming to Adaire took place. At this meeting, the placement of the electrical transformer on the schoolyard was finalized.
After weeks of negotiation, the Trust for Public Land took on Adaire as a project in November 2015. The money promised by Council President Clarke was rerouted to the Fishtown Recreation Center, while the Trust for Public Land and School District agreed to fund the Adaire Schoolyard Redesign.
On February 3, 2016, Friends of Adaire hosted a public update at the Fishtown Recreation Center about the schoolyard project, introducing Trust for Public Land to the community. Trust for Public Land’s Danielle Denk and Philadelphia Department of Public Property’s Francesco Cerrai joined FoA’s Denis Devine in presenting to an enthusiastic crowd. We got some nice news coverage out of it.
On June 9, 2016, Trust for Public Land’s Danielle Denk presented about the schoolyard project as part of Principal Anna Jenkins’ second annual end-of-the-year update at the Fishtown Rec.
On August 18, 2016, the School Reform Commission approved a “limited joinder” to the sub grant agreement between Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC). TPL was awarded a Stormwater Management Incentives Program (SMIP) grant by the Philadelphia Water Department for the design and installation of green stormwater management practices at the school.
On September 9, 2016, the Philadelphia Inquirer published the first of two Trust for Public Land legal notices soliciting bids for constructing the Adaire schoolyard project.
October 7, 2016, was the deadline for bids to be submitted. Trust for Public Land received three bids, and would negotiate a contract with the low bidder, Rockport.
In November, three data collectors trained by Trust for Public Land (including FoA Schoolyard Team members Denis Devine and Kate Zmich) measured how many people were using the schoolyard in which ways on several days.
On November 15, 2016, the School Reform Commission approved the Adaire Schoolyard Project!
On January 9, 2017, Friends of Adaire organized a construction logistics meeting in the Adaire library at which the Trust for Public Land and Philadelphia Water Department representatives briefed immediate neighbors about what to expect when the project breaks ground.
On February 21, 2017, Adaire hosted the Adaire Schoolyard Groundbreaking Celebration! Mayor Jim Kenney, City Council Darrell Clarke, Managing Director Michael DiBerardinis, Schools Superintendent Dr. William Hite, Water Department Green Stormwater Infrastructure Manager Jessica Brooks, and Trust for Public Land NJ/PA State Director Anthony Cucchi, Principal Anna Jenkins, many journalists, students, teachers, neighbors, and Friends of Adaire to celebrate the start of construction of a transformed schoolyard. Adaire students trained by The Rock School of Dance wowed the crowd with their hip hop ballet, and then, after some speeches, the ceremonial dirt was ceremonially turned to signify the ground was broken. Hooray! The media took notice.
Construction by Rockport and its subcontractors continued throughout the winter and spring of 2017. Major construction was completed on June 24th. A substantial completion inspection walkthrough took place on July 12, 2017, and a final walkthrough took place on Sept. 20, 2017. Rockport took the fences down on Sept. 29, 2017, and a Grand Opening Celebration is scheduled for Oct. 18, 2017.
Want to help us transform Adaire's schoolyard?
Let us know here and volunteer! Want to help guide the Phase 2 Planning Process? Fill out our Volunteer Forms, Part 1 and Part 2!
