The First Playful Learning Installations in Affordable Housing in the U.S. will be unveiled in Philadelphia on International Day of Play, June 11

Playful Learning Environments in Philadelphia’s North Central and Sharswood Neighborhoods will be Open for Play Beginning June 11

Above: This interactive, nature-inspired puzzle invites children to explore animal habitats. The reverse side features a memory-matching game for added fun and learning. Soon, this standing puzzle will be installed in a pocket park in Sharswood.

PHILADELPHIA – (May 28, 2025) –  On June 11, the second International Day of Play, Live and Learn will reveal Playful Learning installations that are transforming everyday spaces in two Philadelphia affordable housing communities into places for kids to explore, use their imagination and grow. Co-designed with residents and rooted in research, Live and Learn – the first initiative of its kind in the nation – reimagines where learning happens and who it’s for. With lead support from the William Penn Foundation, this project is a national model for the future of affordable housing development – one that asks: What if every child had access to rich, brain-building experiences, no matter their ZIP code? 

The media is welcome at the Live and Learn unveilings on June 11, which will include a host of fun activities for families, food, music and tours of the installations. Speakers will include City Councilmember Dr. Anthony Phillips, William Penn Foundation Executive Director Shawn McCaney, Live and Learn partners and community members. For details.

“We’re excited to see this local and national model come to life infused with community-generated and community-centered ideas and designs that boost early learning and child development,” said Jennifer Stavrakos, Director of the Children and Families Program at the William Penn Foundation. 

The United Nations created International Day of Play in 2024, and says play “helps children develop the cognitive, physical, creative, social, and emotional skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.” Kids put it more simply: 71% of children say play is important because it makes them happy.

Playful Learning combines the joy of play with goal-driven learning to promote cognitive, social and emotional growth in children ages 0-8. When integrated into everyday spaces – like supermarkets, laundromats and sidewalks – it has proven to enhance development, especially for children lacking access to quality learning opportunities and to close gaps in school readiness and academic performance. By design, Playful Learning engages parents and caregivers in this joyful experience with their children, enhancing shared time together. 

“All children in Philadelphia deserve the best places to play — but when they can play and learn at the same time, it makes a greater impact in their lives. I’m excited to see this pilot expand as the City creates more affordable housing for our neighbors,” says Philadelphia City Councilmember Dr. Anthony Phillips. 

Children spend 80% of their time outside of the classroom. In Philadelphia, which has the highest poverty rate of any large U.S. city, many families lack access to high-quality learning opportunities for their children. Temple University professor and Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a staunch advocate for this pilot, was the first to suggest embedding Playful Learning into community spaces.

“This pilot brings Playful Learning home to the most vulnerable children, which is revolutionary,” says Hirsh-Pasek. “The science tells us that living conditions are inequitable and that families with more opportunities have more engaging conversations and access to things they can do with their kids. Building Playful Learning into affordable housing allows us to begin to fill that gap.”

With Playful Learning, everyday elements like benches, sidewalks, and tables become tools for joyful skill-building through intentional design. Over the past two years, developers, Playful Learning experts, and architects have worked with residents and community leaders to shape pilot sites that reflect local values and culture.

Above: In North Central Philadelphia, a once-ordinary bike shed is reimagined as a vibrant community hub, complete with a performance stage and interactive puzzles that encourage playful, iterative learning.

Pennrose, the developer in the Sharswood community, together with WRT, their designer, worked with community partners – Brewerytown Sharswood Community Civic Association, Lower North Philadelphia Community Development Corporation and Brewerytown Sharswood Neighborhood Coalition – to engage Sharswood residents in the co-design process. Community Ventures, the developer in the North Central neighborhood, partnered with a community nonprofit, Tree House Books, to engage residents in  co-designing the installations with their designer, KSS Architects. A full list of Live and Learn partners and collaborators can be found here.

“Building Playful Learning principles into the design of the architecture, furnishings, and landscapes of affordable housing from the beginning of the design process greatly increases the feasibility, efficiency, and affordability of these efforts. Early integration enables developers and architects to provide impactful opportunities for the residents without adding cost to the budget or time to the schedule,” said Live and Learn Project Manager Heidi Segall Levy of Watchdog Real Estate Project Management.

In Sharswood, installations foster identity, belonging, and environmental awareness. Kids can spin a traffic sign to create their own “rules of the road,” follow painted animal prints on sidewalks, or play an I-Spy game within a wall mural. A nearby pocket park offers interactive puzzles, carved benches, and a Little Free Library—inviting exploration, imagination, and growth through play. Inside two different buildings, Playful Learning continues in community rooms. Custom tabletops help children build words and stories, recognize colors, explore shapes and navigate mazes. A neighborhood-themed I-Spy mural features local landmarks and historic sites, encouraging kids to imagine connections between familiar places.

In North Central Philadelphia, a graphic novel-themed installation invites residents to explore their superpowers and celebrate local heroes. Murals co-designed by the community fill hallways and stairwells with prompts for reflection and conflict resolution. The entryway now features a Playful Learning gate, providing residents added security and passersby an opportunity for joyful interaction. Beyond it, residents encounter a cozy reading nook that promotes literacy and a bulletin board where they can share their own story. Outside, a bike shed doubles as a performance space, complete with a giant blackboard for drawing story settings and prompts to “act out your story.” Interactive puzzles and storytelling benches with built-in bookshelves encourage kids to read, imagine and create their own superheroes.

Live and Learn is a collaborative of developers, architects, and community organizations, led by Watchdog Real Estate Project Management, Playful Learning Landscapes and Masters Group Design.

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CONTACT: Rachel Ezekiel-Fishbein

Rachel@MakingheadlinesPR.com 267-679-2463

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