Co-designed With Communities, Playful Learning Spaces Will Be Built Into Two Affordable Housing Developments in Philadelphia
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Philadelphia, PA — Putting the “leap” into Leap Day, Watchdog Real Estate Project Management and Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network (PLLAN) announce the launch of their joint playful learning initiative Live and Learn. Funded by a grant from William Penn Foundation, Live and Learn is a pilot program with a mission to expand educational equity by building playful learning environments into affordable housing.
“Playful learning environments are public spaces designed to help children learn while playing, based on the science of how children learn best,” says Sarah Lytle, executive director of PLLAN. “With Live and Learn, we hope to create a model that can be easily scaled so that playful learning spaces are a standard inclusion in the design and construction of all affordable housing in the future.”
“Playful learning opportunities spark skill-building and school readiness for children,” says Heidi Segall Levy, senior project manager at Watchdog. “Together with community residents, we are co-creating playful spaces that reflect the values and cultures of the community. The best part is that this learning happens right where children live.”
The pilot program focuses on two sites, one in Susquehanna Square, an existing Community Ventures development in North Central Philadelphia, and the other in a new Pennrose development currently under construction in the Sharswood neighborhood of North Philadelphia.
“We are thrilled to be part of this project—it’s an opportunity for us to work with the community, collaborate with our neighbor Tree House Books and provide resources that support young people,” says David LaFontaine, executive director of Community Ventures.
“Pennrose sees this as a true neighborhood effort with the potential to enhance the lives of both residents of our buildings and the greater community,” says Lindsey Samsi, senior developer of Pennrose.
Working closely with the developers and community partners (in Susquehanna Square, Tree House Books; and in Sharswood, Brewerytown-Sharswood Community Civic Association, Lower North Philadelphia Community Development Corporation and Brewerytown-Sharswood Neighborhood Coalition), Live and Learn is conducting a robust community engagement process so that the playful learning installations will reflect the culture, values, priorities, and learning goals of the children and families who will use them.
Together with the communities and the input received in the first community engagement sessions, designers from KSS Architects and WRT will create designs for the indoor and outdoor installations. The community-driven design phase is expected to last through Spring 2024, culminating in two Mini Block Parties—one in each neighborhood—to test prototype designs with community residents. After this, the designs will be finalized and implemented. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will follow at each site upon completion of the installations.
To learn more about Live and Learn, visit www.liveandlearnphl.org. To download Live and Learn’s information packet, click here.
About Live and Learn
A pilot project helmed by Watchdog Real Estate Project Management and Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network (PLLAN) and funded by William Penn Foundation, Live and Learn aims to expand education equity by integrating playful learning into all affordable housing.