Picnic & Play Phase

The Picnic & Play project will fulfill community requests for more publicly accessible athletic facilities and address the citywide field shortage impacting children and teens in the city. This project will create several multisport fields, play areas, picnic groves, and – for the first time in FDR – basketball courts. Picnic & Play and the Nature Phase will together remove the historic segregation of nature and youth sports by creating high-quality recreational spaces alongside resilient native habitats in the same public park. The project creatively repurposes the footprint of a former golf course to dramatically expand recreation opportunities for 21,000 kids living in South Philadelphia, as well as residents citywide. Picnic & Play will have a direct positive impact on mental, physical, and social health in our city, and promote meaningful opportunities for youth advancement. Early Fair Play contributions helped to launch construction of Picnic & Play in 2024 and will open the first round of facilities in 2026, with fundraising still underway to deliver additional recreation spaces at the site.

Read more about the need for these resources:

• FDR Park Plan responds to the needs of youth sports teams

• “This is a long time coming:” Youth coaches and athletes rally for sports in FDR Park

• Family Field Day at FDR Park celebrates One Park for All

---

Credits:

Project Team: Fairmount Park Conservancy, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, WRT Design, Seravalli

Renderings: WRT Design