Philadelphia, county Park: Latest News

The FBI is looking for a suspect who they say robbed a Wells Fargo Bank in North Philadelphia on Monday.  PHILADELPHIA - The FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department Violent Crimes Task Force is seeking the public's assistance in identifying and locating the person who allegedly robbed a Wells Fargo Bank in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon.At around 12:55 p.m., authorities say the suspect entered the bank on North Broad Street, waited in line, approached the teller, and demanded money. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of cash, police said the suspect fled the area on foot and was last seen heading south on Broad Street.MORE HEADLINESDA: 14-year-old charged in connection with fatal shooting of Philadelphia Parks and Rec employeeMan, 23, charged in police-involved shooting outside a Center City nightclub, police sayEgg Harbor City man sentenced on sex assault and endangerment of 2 childrenPolice describe the subject as a man, about 5'10-5'11 tall, thin build, wearing a blue, white, and green plaid shirt, black pants, black cap with "Philadelphia" on it, black face mask, and white shoes, carrying a blue duffel bag. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous and police are urging anyone with information about this robbery or the suspect to call th FBI or the Violent Crimes Task force at 215-418-4000, or go to tips.fbi.gov.A reward is being offered for information leading to the suspect's capture. 

PHILADELPHIA - A recreation center in Philadelphia has been renamed in honor of a Parks and Recreation employee killed outside the facility last year. The Mill Creek Rec Center has been renamed the Tiffany Fletcher Rec Center to remember the slain Parks and Rec worker. Fletcher, a then 41-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot when she was caught in the crossfire of a shootout near the rec center in September.  Related According to authorities, the victim was a Mill Creek Rec Center employee and was working at the time of the shooting.She was remembered by many in the community as a hard-working employee who always wanted to help others. RELATED: 'I'm just devastated': More than 100 turn out to honor Parks and Rec employee shot and killedThe family of Tiffany Fletcher, the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation employee fatally shot outside of the Mill Creek Recreation Center, spoke publicly to thank the community for their support and plead for justice.In honor of Fletcher and the name change, the city will hold a renaming ceremony on Wednesday at 1 p.m. 

LEBANON, Pa. - A week-long manhunt has come to an end after law enforcement scoured the state of Pennsylvania for the third, and final, suspect in a triple homicide that left two children dead.U.S. Marshals took Ivan Claudio Rosero, 27, into custody in Pennypack Park in Philadelphia around 7:45 p.m.

WEST PHILADELPHIA - Hundreds of volunteers all across Philadelphia took part in a massive clean-up to help launch the unofficial start of the park season in Philly.Kathryn Ott Lovell is the Commissioner for Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and she says this truly is a grassroots effort."We are so grateful to our thousands of park friends, regular residents who just come out of their homes and, not just today, but every day of the year and just love their parks," Lovell said.Morgan Doyle is a Brewerytown resident, but came Saturday to do her part, not just with the cleanup, but also with impacting climate change, in a positive manner. "Coming and planting trees, removing invasive species, cleaning up trash – those things make me feel a little less stressed about the doom and gloom of climate change."Philadelphia has one of the most robust park systems in the nation and Lovell says we’re very fortunate."Philadelphia parks make up about 11 percent of our city’s total land mass, so that’s really incredible for a city our size," Lovell explained.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia's leader of city parks and recreational facilities is stepping down from her post, according to Mayor Jim Kenney. On Thursday, Kenney announced the resignation of Kathryn Ott Lovell as Commissioner of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. "When the pandemic forced us all outdoors, our City parks and playgrounds quickly became the center of our lives. During that time, Kathryn led a team at PPR to serve Philadelphians in new ways - turning recreation centers into virtual learning hubs and transforming residential blocks into mobile summer camp experiences," Mayor Kenney said.  "I thank her for her service and wish her the best."According to the Mayor's Office, Lovell is moving on to be the President and CEO of the Philadelphia Visitors Center Corporation, which helps enhance the experience of visitors to Philadelphia. "As a lifelong Philadelphian, serving the city I love, being the Commissioner for the past seven and a half years has been a tremendous honor," Lovell said.

PHILADELPHIA - Darius Cuevas would love to take his young son to the park across the street from his Lawncrest home, but he says rampant gun violence in the city often gives him second thoughts."It's sad to see, sad to say, but it's the city we live in right now," Cuevas said. "I do have a 4-year-old child myself, I can’t even take my son across the street no more."That reality hit close to home for Cuevas on Thursday when police say a midday gunfight erupted outside Lawncrest Recreation Center during which two dozen shots were fired.

PHILADELPHIA - The City of Philadelphia has issued an advisory about road closures in Wissahickon Valley Park on Friday. According to city officials, several roads in the area will be closed to allow the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and Friends of the Wissahickon to conduct tree maintenance along with a volunteer spring clean up. The following road closures will take effect: The road closures are expected to impact traffic heading to Citizens Bank Park for the Phillies' home opener at 3 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and fellow city leaders shared a host of new summer programs for kids and teens designed to keep the city's youth safe. The campaign - dubbed #ItsASummerThing after the Eagles playoff motto - includes summer camps and summer jobs that will pay kids as young as 12. "Last year, especially in neighborhoods that are struggling with various issues, the kids really seem to respond to it, enjoy it and felt as if we cared about them and we cared about their neighborhood and we cared about their families," Kenney said during Tuesday's press conference. While the city is bringing back several successful programs, there are also new features in the 2023 slate of programs. This year, every summer camp in Philadelphia will have extended care until 6 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA - A caiman discovered at FDR Park in Philadelphia in early March has been euthanized, according to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. The caiman was found abandoned in the park on March 5 and the Animal Care & Control Team of Philadelphia (ACCT Philly) came to take the reptile to safety. Agency officials were able to recover the reptile with no injuries and warned against abandoning animals, especially ones not native to the United States. The commission says they were unable to find a home for the reptile, forcing them to put it down. Caimans are not native to North America and can grow up to five feet long. Lisa Cephas told FOX 29 she was on her normal Sunday morning when she saw a Issac Peyton, a fisherman from Delaware County, reel in the 3-foot reptile.

PHILADELPHIA - The lights on the iconic Boathouse Row in Philadelphia are set to go dark for eight months for lighting system renovations, according to the City of Philadelphia's Department of Parks and Recreation. The city says the lights will go dark on March 20 and will be out for several months while the lighting system upgrades. According to city officials, the Fairmount Park Conservancy is partnering with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation to replace the system for $2.1 million. The lighting, introduced in 1979, has become an iconic stable along the Schuylkill River. Boathouse Row lights up in red for Phillies opening dayThe lights were last upgraded in 2016 and the city says the rising maintenance costs sparked the need for a full replacement. "Boathouse Row is a Philadelphia icon.

SILVERDALE, Pa. - Bucks County officials have announced an arrest in the murder and kidnapping of a Sellersville man who has been missing since Oct. 2021. Matthew James Branning was last seen with a co-worker near their workplace in Silverdale Borough back on Oct.

Authorities announce charges against a man who they say assaulted and pointed a gun at a police officer outside a Center City nightclub early Sunday morning.  PHILADELPHIA - The District Attorney's Office announced charges on Monday against a 23-year-old man for his role in an officer-involved shooting outside a Center city nightclub early Sunday morning. At around 3:15 a.m., authorities say three plainclothes police officers responded to a fight among several people at the corner of 13th and Chancellor Streets, outside of Woody's nightclub. As officers attempted to break up the altercation, they say they faced resistance from the crowd. Authorities say Lawrence Evans allegedly punched one officer before he pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the officers.

PHILADELPHIA - A teenager has been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a Philadelphia parks and rec employee, the Philadelphia District Attorney announced. According to authorities, Tiffany Fletcher, 40, was preparing to welcome students to the Mill Creek Recreation Center after school when she got stuck in the crossfire of a shootout between two groups on Friday. PREVIOUS: Philadelphia rec center worker shot and killed, 14-year-old in custody, police sayPolice released new details about the investigation in Da Larry Krasner's weekly gun crimes press conference. Officials say 16th District officers heard gunshots in the area of the 4700 block of Brown Street Friday afternoon, around 1:30 p.m.Responding officers saw people running and officers chased and arrested a 14-year-old man on Perry Street, Commissioner Danielle Outlaw announced. A detective later recovered a 9mm ghost gun loaded with one round in the chamber and one round in the magazine from a trash can on Perry Street, according to officials. As the teen was arrested, other officers located Fletcher suffering from gunshot wounds to both sides of her body on Brown Street. Outlaw says after being shot, Fletcher ran to a nearby business, where they tried to tend to her wounds. Fletcher was transported to Presbyterian Hospital, where she died from her injuries, authorities said. Police say she was outside of the recreation center when she was caught in the crossfire between the 14-year-old and at least one other person.

PHILADELPHIA - Calls to reopen shuttered Philadelphia community pools grew on Tuesday, with protesters using inflatable pools to help make their point. Community members say the pool at the Sayer Morris Rec Center in West Philadelphia started to close regularly in seven years ago and finally drained in 2017. The Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation claimed lifeguard shortages and maintenance issues caused the pool - and others like it - to close. Community leaders say the city's reasons are legitimate, but they're not doing enough to rectify the issues.Kirstin Britt, the president of Sayre Advisory Council, organized a protest outside Morris Rec Center on Tuesday.

PHILADELPHIA - Still haven't found a summer camp for your kids as the school year winds down? The Philadelphia parks department is here to help with thousands of openings for more than 100 summer camps, plus jobs for teens.Philadelphia Parks and Recreation on Tuesday said it has roughly 3,000 slots left for its 130 summer camps. Officials say finding a camp that fits your child's interests is easy."We actually have a finder you can type in your address or neighborhood or what type of activity you're looking for," Parks Director Marita Soukup said. To explore options, parents and guardians can visit Phila.gov/PPR.

CENTER CITY - An energized and motivated crowd of activists and council members are calling on the Kenney Administration to properly fund Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and the Free Library of Philadelphia as a hot and humid summer draws near."We’re constantly being asked to do all of these different things, and our budget always seems to get smaller and smaller or stagnate, despite the fact that the needs of this community are ever growing. At Christy alone, we lost four kids last summer," said Quan Brown, a local volunteer at Christy Park. "I don’t mean lost like on a field trip, I mean they were gunned down."16-year-old Kahree Simmons was one of those teens.

PHILADELPHIA - Last weekend's 90 degree temperatures that baked the Delaware Valley were an early reminder of the oppressive summer heat still in store for our region.One of the most popular ways for Philadelphians to beat the heat is to take a dip in a community pool. But with a little over a month to go before pools open, the city says its facing a lifeguard shortage. While some lifeguards are returning, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation says it's about 60 lifeguards short.

The 2022 Broad Street Run winners. (Philadelphia Parks & Recreation)PHILADELPHIA - Over 27,000 runners returned for the 42nd annual Blue Cross Broad Street Run.

The 2022 Broad Street Run is scheduled for May 1.  (Philadelphia Parks & Recreation)PHILADELPHIA - Runners are set to gather at Broad Street and West Fisher Avenue for the 42nd annual Blue Cross Broad Street Run on May 1 at 8:00 a.m. "I'm thrilled to welcome back runners to the Blue Cross Broad Street Run on its traditional May date," Mayor Jim Kenney said. "Thank you to everyone who got vaccinated so we can have a safe race." Although the date of the race is back to its original time, there are still several changes runners and spectators should be aware of. Here is what you need to know as the city prepares for the 10-mile event. According to the City of Philadelphia, thousands of runners have registered for the event, but only runners who submitted proof of vaccination can run in person.

PHILADELPHIA - For the 24th year in a row, the Katie Kirlin Youth Wheelchair Basketball Tournament took place over the weekend featuring athletes from several states on the East Coast. "It’s an exciting sport to watch! If you’ve never seen it before, you got to check it out, these athletes are amazing what they can do, they’re handling the wheelchair, they’re handling a basketball, it’s an amazing sport," said Erica Young, Program Director with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation. The tournament is in honor of Katie Kirlin who was paralyzed in the late 80’s and later died in 1989. Her parents keep her memory alive through this event. "She became paralyzed in '87…there was no Junior wheelchair sports in Philadelphia at the time…after her death we realized that we needed to start something. There’s no funding for wheelchair sports.

Runner gather at the starting line of the Broad Street 10 mile run in Philadelphia. PHILADELPHIA - The 2021 Blue Cross Broad Street Run will have some course changes and a new finish line, the city announced Tuesday.The annual 10-mile run will take place at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Oct 10. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation announced that proof of full COVID-19 vaccination is required for in-person participation.

PHILADELPHIA - Pfizer said Monday its COVID-19 vaccine works for children ages 5 to 11 and that it will seek U.S. authorization for this age group soon — a key step toward beginning vaccinations for youngsters.The company is expected to seek emergency approval from the Food and Drug Administration by the end of September and children 5 to 11 may be receiving shots by Halloween. At Seger Park in Philadelphia’s Washington Square West neighborhood, kids and parents enjoyed the warm weather.  Matt Ginion playing in the park with his 6-year-old daughter Hanna is happy with the news."I think it’s great.  I can’t wait for her to get it.

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - Police are investigating after the catalytic converters were stolen from seven Philadelphia Parks & Recreation trucks overnight in South Philadelphia, according to police. Police say seven of the Parks & Recreation Department's Ford pick-up trucks were parked in FDR Park near the 2000 block of Pattison Avenue when the theft occurred. Investigators did not report any arrests and have not released a description of potential suspects. According to popular car sales website Edmunds, thieves target catalytic converters due to the precious metals they're manufactured with like platinum and palladium. Edmunds says catalytic converters can bring up to $200 at most scrap yards.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Parks & Recreation officials announced Monday that the City’s outdoor pools will open on a rolling basis beginning Wednesday, June 30.As such, 16 public pools are expected to open by the weekend. An additional 31 pools scheduled will open on a rolling basis over the next few weeks. All of the pools will offer daily open swim and free swim lessons.  "Philadelphia public pools are a great way to cool down, have fun, and stay active this summer," said Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia pools are reopening and looking for hundreds of lifeguards to fill vacancies post-pandemic. Port Richmond’s Bernard Samuel Recreation Center pool is one of 68 across the city offered to residents in the summertime. Khadijah Davis is a college student and lifeguard who has watched over city pools as a lifeguard since 2015. "I love what I do, it’s fun," she said. "I enjoy making sure kids are safe and having a good time.

((Philadelphia Parks & Recreation))PHILADELPHIA - After over 40 years of reported heavy use, four trail bridges in Wisshickon Valley Park are nearing the end of their lifespan. As such, four trail bridges in the park will close at 6 a.m. on Monday, March 1 for major renovations. The bridges involved in the $1.2 million project connect the Lincoln Drive and Forbidden Drive sections of the Wissahickon Valley Trail.This is an important link between Forbidden Drive and the Schuylkill River Trail.

PHILADELPHIA - There’s no crying in baseball, but no mask-wearing? That has Port Richmond neighbors scratching their heads and the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department calling foul play. Organizers insist what happened Saturday in the Cohocksink Park on Cedar Street is not a baseball tournament. We did see several teams playing each other in a tournament style fashion and a tent selling tournament t-shirts for Sean Daily.

Stadium View of Citizens Bank Park during the Summer Camp game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Phillies on July 19, 2020, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia,PA.(Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA - The Phillies will finally be getting their shortened regular season underway Friday in an empty stadium due to the coronavirus pandemic.Aaron Nola, who missed some of camp due to coronavirus precautions, will take the mound when the team faces off against the Miami Marlins.The three-game series will mark the start of their shortened season, in which the team will play 60 games against teams in the National League East and American League

Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Department