(Featured photo – credit to Jose Rivera @joserivera0605 on Instagram.)
Reading is essential. Right now, according to Read by 4th, 2 out of 3 of our children are reading below grade level by 4th grade. We are proud that we have been able to build partnerships to enhance learning opportunities within Tacony Creek Park (which is really a big outdoor classroom).
Here’s an update on our the four Little Libraries in Tacony Creek Park. These libraries would not be possible without the collaboration of Read to Succeed Philly! The following libraries join the library installed by WHYY last summer, located at I Street & Ramona Avenue in Juniata Park. We can’t thank these wonderful partners enough.
Thank you to Tiny WPA and Read to Succeed for building and installing the beautiful little libraries in May 2022, at the following Tacony Creek Park gateways: Whitaker Avenue & East Loudon Street in Feltonville and East Tabor Road & East Olney Avenue in Olney. Tiny WPA and Read to Succeed recently installed the new library at the Hammond Ave. baseball field in August.
We’d also like to give a major thank you to the caretakers of these Little Libraries, nearby neighbors who keep an eye on the libraries and help to keep them filled with books.
I St. & Ramona Ave: Siani Colon
Whitaker Avenue & East Loudon Street: Jackly Rivera (Lauretha Vaird Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia)
East Tabor Road & East Olney Avenue: Gwen Espinosa
Hammond Ave. Baseball Field: Jose Rivera (Feliz Filadelfia)
Curious about how to find the Little Libraries in the park? Use our interactive map:
These libraries provide critical opportunities for young children to engage with and have access to reading materials. The fact that these are in Tacony Creek Park — surrounded by nature — creates an environment that’s even richer for learning!
This past summer, WHYY provided a Little Library Story Time at the I Street & Ramona Avenue gateway on Thursdays at 10 am in July and August. 79 total participants including children and adults across the 6 weeks of programming gathered to listen to stories and participate in activities.
There are even more special educational opportunities coming to the park, including the River Alive! Learning Trail this month, which will bring wonder and learning to Tacony Creek Park along Cayuga Street in Juniata Park.
Consisting of a series of watershed awareness and engagement opportunities for young children and their caregivers, the space will include animal sculptures, seating, bilingual signage, water messaging, and images along the sidewalk and crosswalk.
Looking for art activities with your children? We want community members to paint the animal sculptures on the Learning Trail! Help us decorate six River Alive! animal sculptures: fox, turtle, great blue heron, a water snake, river otter, and red-breast sunfish at our Community Mosaic Days from September 9 to September 11. Register to paint here!
Join us to celebrate the launch of the Learning Trail on September 14 for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Register here.
Learn more about how the Learning Trail will connect youth to nature and the TTF Watershed here.
We hope to see you at these Little Libraries and at the Learning Trail soon. Share a photo and tag us! @TTFWatershed #TaconyCreekPark
Ideas for programs? Concerns? Complete our Master Plan survey here.
