Parks & Rec asks families to mark their calendars now and ‘Refuel at the Rec’ on school district holidays

Students can visit City recreation centers and playgrounds to receive free, nutritious meals on school holidays during winter, spring breaks. Parks & Rec will distribute the meals on a first-come, first-served basis between mid-afternoon and early evening. Families can call their nearest participating recreation center to confirm hours of service. The meals are only for children and teenagers up to 18 years old, and must be eaten on-site. More here.

Select Philadelphia recreation centers and playgrounds will provide free meals for children up to 18 years old on the following days:

• December 27, 2021

• December 28, 2021

• December 29, 2021

• December 30, 2021

• For 2022: January 3, February 1, April 11, 12, 13, 14.

Facilities available in the neighborhood are: Cruz Recreation Center, Towey Recreation Center, and East Poplar Playground.

A full list of participating facilities (food sites, student, senior & outdoor meal sites) besides additional information about food resources is available online.

Pennsylvania makes masks mandatory in all public spaces.

Rob Tornoe, Philadelphia Inquirer.

The new order, signed by Secretary of Health Rachel Levine, mandates that masks must be worn in public whenever anyone leaves home and can’t maintain a proper social distance from others. Children under the age of two are exempt from the mandate, as are people who cannot wear a mask due to a medical condition.
More details here.

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Philly is in a modified ‘green’ phase now. Here’s what you can and can’t do
Emily Scott, WHYY

As coronavirus cases rise across the country, they’re rising in Philly too: the city is averaging more than 100 new cases a day, and about one-third of new cases reported are in people under the age of 30. Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said on Thursday that the city is now experiencing a “second wave” of the coronavirus. The soonest Philly can now enter the unrestricted green phase is August 1, Farley said. And if cases continue to rise, it’s possible certain activities that are currently allowed may be off-limits.
More here.

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What the green phase means for Parks & Rec sites
Darren Fava, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.

Philadelphia begins the green phase of reopening in early July. COVID-19 is not gone, so we must reopen with care. Read more about our progress on the Reopening With Care site.

Here’s what the reopening guidance means for Philadelphia Parks & Recreation services and sites: