Playgrounds

The Benjamin Franklin Bridge is a vital gateway connecting Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Great pride went into the construction of the bridge, but it fundamentally changed Camden over 100 years ago when it divided the City, fencing beneath continues to divide the communities living nearby. During heavy rain and snow events, run-off from the bridge floods the surrounding streets making travel challenging. We’re changing all of that by working in partnership with City leaders. Once complete, vast gardens will capture and direct stormwater runoff and an accompanying trail will provide a vital pedestrian link alleviating flooding and reconnecting neighbors. 

Located in the West Central neighborhood of Spokane, Dutch Jake’s Park is named for Jacob Goetz, a central community figure and resident of West Central in the early 1900s. Jacob Goetz was known by neighbors for his sense of fun and spirit of friendship. When the park opened in 1976, neighbors agreed that the new park was the perfect namesake to remember Jake.
 
Today, more than 2,900 residents live within a 10 Minute Walk of Dutch Jake’s park. But in recent years, Dutch Jake’s Park hasn’t felt like a safe place to play. In 2016, growing safety concerns prompted a community planning effort to create a new vision for the park.

America’s schoolyards are packed with potential. In a few places, schoolyards are vibrant community hubs, open to the public after school hours and designed to meet the needs of neighbors as well as students. But in too many communities, schoolyards look more like parking lots than playgrounds, and their gates lock as soon as students head home for the day.