What Do Kids Do in Port Richmond? (Philadelphia, Clearfield: middle-class, homes)

[dougblackjr]

My wife, toddler, and I are moving into Port Richmond in less than a week. I was wondering...what do families and kids do for fun in Port Richmond? I know of a few playgrounds and such, but can't find any sports leagues or YMCAs or gyms or anything.

Any help is appreciated!

[Marius Pontmercy]

What do kids normally do these days? Kids in Port Richmond aren't that different I'm sure. Most neighborhoods have some sort of sports league. The neighbors generally will have their kids play together at the local park. I know that's how it worked in both the neighborhoods I've lived in. Beyond that... yeah I don't know what to say. Whatever they're doing now they can probably keep on doing.

[phillybound]

There was a Pal club down there . don't know if it is still there, there are also sports leagues at Cohocksing playground , probably wrong spelling

[jennm59]

Port Richmond does indeed have sports leagues - everything from baseball to football. There is also a Police Athletic League.

But...what do they do for fun? There is a library that is walkable, often events in the park in the summer by Allegheny, and there are a couple of fields where you'll always see kids throwing a ball or playing tag. I guess they just do "kid stuff." If they are really young, there are a number of playgrounds. If they are older, there are basketball courts and tennis courts.

I was teaching a young girl how to play tennis there the other day.

[Fern Rock]

There's fishing - the Delaware River is cleaner than it's been in over 50 years and is home to dozens of species of fish and other animals.

[PennKid]

Originally Posted by dougblackjr

My wife, toddler, and I are moving into Port Richmond in less than a week. I was wondering...what do families and kids do for fun in Port Richmond? I know of a few playgrounds and such, but can't find any sports leagues or YMCAs or gyms or anything.

Any help is appreciated!

If your kids are slightly more art-oriented, here's a local place with lots of stuff for them to do, just on the other side of Lehigh:

portsideartscenter.org

And for future summer reference, here's some coverage of sports in Port Richmond:

Port Richmond: Tigers Baseball is a Family Tradition

[gakski]

The Rizzo Police Athletic League program at 2524 E. Clearfield St. (215-425-6583) has varied educational, athletic & educational activities.

Police Athletic League of Philadelphia ::: About PAL

[Clark Park]

- Break into peoples homes.
- Smoke crack in vacant lots.
- Spray graffiti on buildings.
- Break into parked cars and steal radios and GPS systems.
- Get paid for making kiddie porn.
- Terrorize older folks.
- Have crystal meth parties.

j/k

JUST KIDDING!

JUST KIDDING !!!

[PennKid]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

- Break into peoples homes.
- Smoke crack in vacant lots.
- Spray graffiti on buildings.
- Break into parked cars and steal radios and GPS systems.
- Get paid for making kiddie porn.
- Terrorize older folks.
- Have crystal meth parties.

j/k

JUST KIDDING!

JUST KIDDING !!!

Joke or no joke, I have lived in both West Philly and Port Richmond, and quite a few times I've defended West Philly's devotion to integration and progressive optimism to openly skeptical River Wards and NEast dwellers, who I have convinced to give a grudging recognition of West Philly's vitality (although many insist it's solely an anomaly). However, when confronted with the River Wards/NEast-is-white-trash-meme, no matter how many times I defend the neighborhoods by pointing out their sense of community solidarity, fierce pride, and old-world charm, I seem unable to make a dent in the perception; it's the same old mutterings about white trash the next day.

I'll be the first one to admit that some of these stereotypes are based in grains of truth- there are pill-popping, car-scratching, recklessly promiscuous teens in places like Port Richmond, perhaps even in slightly higher concentrations than Spruce Hill or Squirrel Hill (just don't forget the ingrained privilege of having always been middle-class and more recently supported by Penn). But repeating these trite stereotypes isn't very progressive, I'd like to say. I'm glad that you put in a disclaimer; I thus bear you no ill will. But be careful before someone takes your points at face value and thus decides to stay away from a great neighborhood like Port Richmond....

[tjr19136]

They sleep around, play baseball, and drink beer........... Typical Irish neighborhood.