Smith’s History
STANDING THE TEST OF TIME
In the late 1800s, in conjunction with the American Playground Movement, the Richard and Sarah Smith Trust created Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse. The Movement was developed in the mid-1890s when child-saving reformers, social workers and child psychologists, concerned about the health and welfare of urban children and believing that supervised play improved the mental, moral and physical well-being of children, urged local governments to construct playgrounds where children could play safely. Smith, an embodiment of the Movement, opened in 1899.
For more than 100 years, Smith’s operations were supported almost exclusively by the interest from the Trust. In 2004, in response to the continuing deterioration of the Playhouse and the closure of the Playground due to safety and accessibility issues, a group of concerned citizens established a non-profit organization, Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse Inc., to fund the restoration of the site, maintain the facilities and expand services. The Trust was no longer sufficient to main Smith, and the board and staff work hard to raise additional funds from individuals, corporations and foundations to support the organization’s day-to-day activities and capital projects.
SMITH TODAY
Since 2004, Smith’s Board has been successful in increasing the organization’s operating income by more than 100%. In addition, Smith has raised more than $8 million in support of its capital campaign to restore the Playhouse and Playground. With these funds, Smith has renovated the Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide and opened the Playground with two new state-of-the-art, high-performance play areas built in compliance with all current safety measures and with accessibility for handicapped children. In 2008, Liberty Property Trust donated the materials for and constructed the Liberty Labyrinth, the newest component of the Playground. Most recently, Smith restored the Playhouse roof, exterior walls, cornice, windows, terraces, and the first floor interior of the Playhouse. The Tot-Lot, designed for children under 5, opened in August 2009. Future renovation plans include further restoration of the interior of the Playhouse to expand programming space, and the addition of water play in front of the Playhouse as well as natural play areas and a new parking lot.
Smith is unique. The Playhouse is beautiful and huge. The building was designed solely as a play space for children by one of Philadelphia’s most prominent late 19th century architects, James H. Windrim. The open layout of the 24,000 square foot three story brick and masonry structure features floor to ceiling windows, porches and room upon room with a variety of play opportunities from riding tricycles to tumbling to putting on a puppet show. The Playhouse is situated on its original landscape — 6 1/2 acres of open fields, wooded terrain, and sloped hills — home to the century old Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide, a treasured play experience for generations of Philadelphia’s children.
Throughout its history, several generations of Philadelphians have considered Smith to be a “fantasyland” and they treasure memories of their times in the Playhouse, on the Giant Wooden Slide and on the Playground. In July 2005, the first phase of Smith’s capital project to restore the site was completed and the Playground reopened. The Giant Wooden Slide was rebuilt to meet current standards and an accessible play area featuring state-of-the-art age appropriate equipment for children age 5 through 10 was constructed. In August 2006 an additional acre of play space, “Swing City,” opened.
A COMMUNITY ASSET
Since its opening in 1899, Smith has had a very diverse constituency. Smith is a unique asset to the surrounding communities of Strawberry Mansion, Brewerytown and Fairmount. However, Smith’s constituency does not stop at these boundaries, with children from Philadelphia’s many neighborhoods and the surrounding suburbs utilizing the Playground and Playhouse. Smith has never charged an admission fee in order to be accessible to all, but encourages families to become members to show their financial support.
Smith hosts school and camp groups, birthday parties, and offers weekly storytelling activities and monthly craft programs. Smith invites families to public events such as “Play-a-Palooza,” “Smith’s Birthday Party,” “Halloween” and the “Holiday Open House.”
Smith partners with a number of organizations such as The Junior League of Philadelphia, Univision, Impact Services, JEVS, Easter Seals, the Fairmount Park Commission, and Philadelphia Reads. Smith works closely with several organizations and corporations (Transitional Work Corporation, Temple University, Jewish Employment and Vocational Services, Volunteer Match, Greater Philadelphia Cares) to recruit volunteers.
