City of Philadelphia Press Release (3.14.19)
This week Rebuild announced the award of $13.8 million in grant funds to local nonprofits to carry out major improvements to the Cecil B. Moore Recreation Center in North Philadelphia and the Heitzman Recreation Center in Harrowgate.
Beech Interplex, Inc. will carry out the $12 million project to completely renovate and modernize the Cecil B. Moore Recreation Center and playground. Harrowgate-based nonprofit IMPACT Services will deliver a $1.8 million improvement project at the Heitzman Recreation Center.
Cecil B. Moore's karate students perform at the Rebuild launch celebration.
“Rebuild is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernize and transform Philadelphia’s neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and libraries,” Rebuild Executive Director Nicole Westerman said. “Partnering with trusted community nonprofits allows the City to complete renovations in more places, more quickly, with the participation of more residents. Working together, we can deliver Philadelphians the high-quality community facilities they deserve.”
IMPACT Services and Beech Interplex, Inc. are committed to Rebuild’s ambitious diversity targets, including 25 to 30 percent of all spending on professional services contracts and 30 to 35 percent of all spending on construction contracts go to minority-owned businesses. The diversity of applicants’ contracting teams was a key consideration in the selection process to secure these multi-million dollar projects.
Rebuild is currently finalizing similar grant awards to pre-qualified nonprofit organizations for three additional projects at the Olney Recreation Center, the Vare Recreation Center, and Glavin Playground.
Made possible by the Philadelphia Beverage Tax, Rebuild is committing hundreds of millions of dollars to restore parks, recreation centers, and libraries across the City.
Mayor Jim Kenney and Council President Darrell L. Clarke will join Beech Interplex. Inc. and the North Philadelphia community to celebrate this historic investment at the Cecil B. Moore Recreation Center on Saturday, March 23 from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
The Heitzman Recreation Center community launch event will be announced in the coming weeks. More details about both projects, and upcoming Rebuild events, can be found at rebuild.phila.gov.