Pictures from Pop's Skate Space Grand Opening

On the afternoon of July 25, 2009 hundreds of neighbors, volunteers, skateboarders, and artists gathered at Pop’s Playground, located at Trenton & Huntingdon in East Kensington, to celebrate the grand opening of Skate Space, a multi-use skate park at the playground.







In 2008 plans were started to convert a former hockey court at Pop’s into a skate space. This conversion of this underused public space would provide safe recreational activities for neighborhood youth, as well as showcase the strong community surrounding the playground. NKCDC, The Friends of Pops Playground, and Franklin’s Paine teamed up with Exit Skate Shop and the Philadelphia Recreation Department to raise funds and organize volunteers for the project. In total more than 30 dedicated skateboarders and community volunteers contributed 2,500+ man-hours to the construction of the park.





Countless hours of work were provided by a handful of dedicated volunteers - Jesse Clayton, Nick Suozzo, Adam Foizen, Tom Martin, Chris Clark, Chris Picco, Adam Kaufman, Steve Scipione.













Additional support for this project was provided by NeighborWorks America, Tony Hawk Foundation, Genworth Financial, Athletes for Hope, Boost Moblie, State Senator Mike O’Brien, Councilman Frank DiCicco, Woods Brothers, North Philadelphia Weed & Seed, Castor Cement Company, Liberties Restaurant & Bar, Kerrigan's Florists, and Pappajohn Woodworking.

Select photos courtesy of Zolidephia.