Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse will host its twelfth annual adults-only Party in the Playground on Thursday May 29, 2019 from 5:30pm to 8pm at Smith’s historic 16,000 square foot Playhouse and 6 ½ acre Playground in East Fairmount Park. Party in the Playground is an important and fun way to raise funds to support Smith’s work, which includes welcoming over 220,000 visitors annually from families in every zip code in the City, and providing educational and advocacy programs that use the power of play to help children, families, and communities thrive.
This year’s Party in the Playground will include the presentation of the 2019 Ida Newman Magic of Play Award to two phenomenal honorees: State Rep. Donna Bullock, champion of play and member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives representing the 195th Legislative District in North and West Philadelphia; and Meghan Talarowski, founder and director of Studio Ludo, a non-profit dedicated to building better play through research, design, and advocacy. Guests will enjoy delicious food from popular food trucks such as Dos Hermanos Tacos, Dump N Roll, and SPOT Burger; drinks from Moore Brothers Wine and Philadelphia Distilling; live entertainment; and rides down the Ann Newman Giant Wooden slide! There will also be a silent auction featuring unique items such as Phillies tickets, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah tickets, and one-of-a-kind items from Smith’s 120 year history.
Tickets and sponsorship details: https://smithplayground.org/pip2019/.
Questions? Contact [email protected] or 215-765-4325 x102
State Rep. Donna Bullock, D-Phila., is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives representing the 195th Legislative District in North and West Philadelphia. She won the seat in a special election held Aug. 11, 2015. A lawyer and Temple alumna (2004), she previously served as special assistant to Philadelphia City Council President Darrell L. Clarke and as the City Council research fellowship director. She joined Clarke's office in January 2011 as his community and economic development coordinator. Before her work for the city, Bullock worked at a private law firm and for Philadelphia Community Legal Services, where she formed and advised nonprofit organizations, small businesses and community groups. Rep. Bullock's public service precedes her work in government. She has volunteered and served on several boards, task forces, and coalitions, including Smith Memorial Playground, the Columbia North YMCA Advisory Board, West Philadelphia Child Care Network, and the Mayor's Office of Community Service Advisory Board. She and her husband, Otis Bullock, a lawyer and Temple alum as well, live a life of service in Strawberry Mansion, a community they are proud to call home.
Meghan Talarowski is the founder and director of Studio Ludo, a non-profit dedicated to building better play through research, design, and advocacy. She has degrees in architecture and landscape architecture, over 15 years of experience in the design field, and is a certified playground safety inspector. Her research focuses on how the design of play environments impacts physical health and social behavior, and has been presented at conferences worldwide. Her work has been featured by The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, Vox, Next City, Landscape Architecture Magazine, and World Landscape Architecture Magazine. Smith and Studio Ludo currently partner with Erector Sets Inc., DIGSAU and the Free Library of Philadelphia to create new play spaces in select library branches.
Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse is a non-profit organization located in Philadelphia’s East Fairmount Park. Founded in 1899, Smith welcomes visitors from more than 500 zip code areas including every zip code in Philadelphia. The mission of Smith is to provide and promote opportunities for unstructured free play for children. Smith contributes to the development of healthy children, strong families, and safe communities by: 1) maintaining a proud tradition of free family admission; 2) partnering with community-based organizations to reach a diverse audience; and 3) advocating for the importance of play. For more information about Smith please visit www.smithplayground.org.