City officials join PA Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton to celebrate Rebuild's groundbreaking at F.J. Myers Recreation Center

Mayor Jim Kenney, PA Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District), Rebuild Philadelphia, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, and community members broke ground at the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center located in Southwest Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA, September 20, 2023 – The over $20 million of improvements at the recreation center were made possible by the city’s Rebuild program, Philadelphia’s $550 million historic investment in public spaces.

“We are proud to kick off phase two of Rebuild’s F.J. Myers project,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “I want to thank Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton for bringing in an additional $4.5 million RACP grant for the Recreation Center. Together, we are bringing over $20 million in investment to Myers and Southwest Philadelphia.”

Totaling more than $20 million in improvements, including necessary interim improvements completed during phase one of the project in 2021, Phase two will fully gut and renovate the existing three-story facility, as well as demolish the existing annex and gymnasium sections of the original building. In addition to the Rebuild Philadelphia funding, Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton announced the approval of an additional $4.5 million state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant for the Recreation Center.