3,000 Kids Participate in ‘All Day Play Day at Vogt Playground”

August 14, 2014 (Philadelphia) – Councilman Bobby Henon (6^th District) and members of the Philly Play team hosted the inaugural Philly Play Summer Challenge at Vogt Playground yesterday. More than 3,000 kids participated, representing summer camps, day cares, preschools and recreation centers around Philadelphia and the region. The day capped off a successful six-weeks of Philly Play summer camp programming and Pop Up events around the city, all aimed at promoting active play and the use of parks and recreation facilities.

Summer Challenge attendees celebrate before heading off to skills stations at Vogt Playground (photo by Dan Ceisler)

“This is what Philly Play is all about,” said Henon, who created Philly Play in 2013. “These kids worked hard all summer – now they get to celebrate.”

The Summer Challenge was an ‘all day play day’ where kids played at a variety of skill stations, including basketball, football,yoga, Cross Fit, lacrosse, dance and martial arts. Stations were staffed and sponsored by groups such as the Philadelphia 76ers, Snider Hockey Foundation, Philadelphia Spinners, Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Soul, Cradle Lacrosse, Cross Fit Center City, Philly Jumping Jems, Eleone Dance Company, Greener Partners, NBA Math Hoops, and Martial Arts from Councilman David Oh (At-Large). Philadelphia personalities such as the Phillie Phanatic, Swoop and the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders, Miss Philadelphia and Eagles great Jeremiah Trotter also stopped by to greet and play with attendees.

The day also included awards for attendees and presentation of $1,000 to Vogt Recreation Center, the Summer Challenge host site. Henon thanked Vogt for their hospitality and dedication to the Philly Play mission of getting kids to be active for at least 60 minutes every day, adding that Vogt was the perfect example of “the best play spaces that Philadelphia has to offer.”

 The Summer Challenge capped off the six-week summer programming, Philly Play will continue with Pop Up Play events through the summer and into the fall. To learn more about Philly Play, visit www.phillyplay.org.

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