top of page

About Rebuild

Rebuild is an initiative of the City of Philadelphia Managing Director’s Office to improve parks, recreation centers, and libraries in close partnership with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (PPR), the Free Library of Philadelphia (FLP), and other City departments. 

Youth on playground at a Philadelphia Parks and Recreation park renovated by Rebuild.

Made possible by the Philadelphia Beverage Tax, Rebuild will invest hundreds of millions of dollars to improve community facilities. Through its projects, Rebuild will:

​

Make physical improvements to parks, recreation centers, and libraries.

​

Promote diversity and economic inclusion. Rebuild will support minorities and women in the design and construction industries.

 

Engage with community members to leverage their knowledge, power, and expertise. Community feedback will inform the improvements that are made to facilities.

About The Project

Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and Rebuild team gather input from Carousel House community members during the Design Workshop.

The Rebuild project at Carousel House will consist of creating a facility that will retain all former programming and be inclusive for all users. At each of its sites, Rebuild commits to acknowledge history, engage the community, and invest intentionally.

Project Timeline

Community engagement and involvement is central to Rebuild’s mission. Carousel House community members will be involved at every step of the design and construction process. 

​

This type of construction project typically takes a total of 2-4 years from start to finish, and Rebuild anticipates a similar timeline for the new facility (3-4 years total). Going through these design phases thoughtfully and thoroughly will ensure Rebuild creates a project that is guided by the Carousel House community and is welcoming, safe, and accessible for all past and future users.

we are
here!

01

LEARNING •

Fall 2021 - Winter 2022

  1. Stakeholder Discussions

  2. Meet and Greets

02

DRAFT DESIGN: CONCEPT •

Spring 2022 - Fall 2022

  1. Kick-Off Design Meeting

  2. Virtual Meeting Update

03

DRAFT DESIGN: SCHEMATIC •

Winter 2022/2023 - Spring 2023

  1. Community Design Workshop

  2. Focus Groups

04

FINAL DESIGN •

Summer 2023 - Fall 2023

  1. Public Art Workshop

  2. Final Design Presentation

05

CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS AND BIDDING • Winter 2023/2024

Inclusive Programming Discussions

06

CONSTRUCTION START • 2024

Groundbreaking Ceremony

07

FACILITY OPENS! • 2025

Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

Throughout the design process, updates will be shared with the Carousel House community on this website and via email newsletters and social media.

Budget

Since the project is still in its early phases, the budget is still under review and will depend on design and site assessments. Rebuild has committed $22.5 million for this project, already secured from our funding. Carousel House is a priority project and the facility will be one of Rebuild's largest investments. 

Inclusion at Other PPR Sites

While the Carousel House Rebuild project is underway, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation is implementing its Inclusion Plan to offer adaptive and inclusive programming at more sites in every part of the City. To learn more and get involved, please reach out to Gwenn Vilade at Gwendolyn.Vilade@phila.gov

bottom of page