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Carousel House

Rebuild Meet and Greet

October 27, 2021

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Agenda

Meet the Carousel House Rebuild Team

Project Timeline

Questions and Answers

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Meeting Ground Rules

  • Please keep your microphone muted. During the discussion at the end of the meeting, you may request to unmute and speak by using the Raise Hand button.

  • Use the chat to ask questions and share ideas throughout the meeting.

Mute button

“Chat” to type

“Raise Hand” to request to unmute

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How to View Closed Captions

  • Click on the “CC” (closed captioning) button to view the live transcript.

  • You can either choose “Show Subtitles” or “View Full Transcript”

Click on “CC” for closed captions

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Welcome from Rebuild Executive Director,

Kira Strong

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Welcome from Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Commissioner,

Kathryn Ott Lovell

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Rebuild Values

Rebuild’s promise is to

  • acknowledge history
  • engage the community
  • and invest intentionally.

Rebuild seeks to uplift pivotal community spaces, empower neighborhoods, and promote economic opportunity through diversity and inclusion.​

Inclusive play at Miles Mack playground as part of Rebuild project completed in September 2021.

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Rebuild Project Scope and Goals

For the Carousel House Project, Rebuild is making a commitment to an inclusive process led by a diverse team. We have added professional experts to the team, and continue to grow all of our teams to ensure appropriate knowledge and representation.

The Rebuild project at Carousel House will consist of replacing the old building with a new facility that will retain all former programing and be inclusive for all.

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Project Lead: Rebuild

Community involvement is central to Rebuild’s mission: To make physical improvements at neighborhood parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, and libraries informed by community input and engagement processes that leverage residents’ knowledge, power, and expertise.

Amanda Colon-Smith

Community Engagement Director

Kara Medow, AIA

Design and Construction Project Manager

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Design Team: DIGSAU and Studio Pacifica

DIGSAU is a Philadelphia-based architecture studio and a nationally-recognized leader in the design of meaningful buildings.

Studio Pacifica is a specialized consulting practice driven by a belief in universal design that translates into built environments that work for people of all abilities and ages.

Jeff Goldstein, FAIA

Sarah Curry

Jules Dingle, FAIA

Karen L Braitmayer, FAIA

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Design Team: DIGSAU

We believe architecture can allow people to discover connections between each other, place, history, and time. These connections empower and inspire people to be more creative, productive, and fulfilled.

Children’s Playspace at Cecil B. Moore Library

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Design Team: DIGSAU

Entrance path to Discovery Center

Pavilion and Children’s Discovery Garden at Sister Cities Park

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Design: Studio Pacifica

We believe everyone deserves to live their best, barrier-free life. Our specialized consulting practice is driven by a belief in universal design – a way of thinking about design that translates into built environments that work for people of all abilities and ages.

Karen and her team are based in Seattle, Washington

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Design: Studio Pacifica

Karen facilitates a community design meeting

Studio Pacifica’s work environments that work for people of all abilities and ages

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Community Engagement: Community Capacity Builders

We are working with Rebuild to build relationships and engage community members in the Carousel House Rebuild project. We center the voices and expertise of site users and residents in the design process.

Donna Griffin

Jenny Chen

Meg Lemieur

Marangeli Mejia-Rabell

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Community Engagement: Community Capacity Builders

Our approach:

  • Inclusive
  • Values diversity
  • Welcoming for all
  • Allows space for voices to be heard and valued
  • Accessible for everyone

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Typical Rebuild

Project Timeline

Typical project duration:

2-4 years total

we are here!

LEARNING

DRAFT DESIGN

FINAL DESIGN

CONSTRUCTION

DRAWINGS & BID

CONSTRUCTION START

NEW FACILITY OPENS!

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1-3 Months

4-6 Months

3-4 Months

3-6 Months

12-18 Months

CELEBRATE!

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Community Engagement Plan

  • Stakeholder Discussions
  • Meet and Greets

  • Design Kick-Off Meeting
  • Focus Groups with Youth and Adults
  • In-Person and Virtual Design Workshops

  • Public Art Workshop
  • Final Design Presentation

  • Inclusive Programming Discussions

  • Arts-Based Groundbreaking Ceremony

  • Community Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

we are here!

LEARNING

DRAFT DESIGN

FINAL DESIGN

CONSTRUCTION

DRAWINGS & BID

CONSTRUCTION START

NEW FACILITY OPENS!

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Community Engagement Plan

Throughout the process, updates will be shared:

  • Project Website

  • Social Media

  • Email Newsletter

  • Carousel House Rebuild Stakeholder Strategy Committee

we are here!

LEARNING

DRAFT DESIGN

FINAL DESIGN

CONSTRUCTION

DRAWINGS & BID

CONSTRUCTION START

NEW FACILITY OPENS!

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Ensure that advocates and supporters are notified of meetings

Provide email updates, share information in the Parkside Journal

Have a team of people participate in different community events to speak about Rebuild plans

Include capacity-building and employment opportunities as part of this process

Take the opinions and experiences of people with disabilities in the community into serious consideration

Host local meetings in the neighborhood

What would help you and your communities engage in the Carousel House Rebuild process?

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Bring children into the process

Learn from Rebuild about other projects and sites in progress.

Consider space for social service providers to serve all participants.

All meetings should be universally designed to be accessible to all.

Consider focus groups specifically targeted for groups of individuals with disabilities. They will share more freely when they feel safe.

Update Carousel House social media pages. Also put up a board and post meeting information at the site.

What would help you and your communities engage in the Carousel House Rebuild process?

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Q: What is already decided on?

A: Rebuild is Just starting the process, so much is still to be determined. No major decisions have been made at this point except that Rebuild will be at Carousel House and creating a new building.

Q: Will programming and design allow for opportunities for people with disabilities and people without disabilities to get to meet and learn from each other?

Q: In this planning process, is there a way to provide MORE recreation space than what is currently at Carousel House?

Q: Are there any places for families with people with disabilities to attend during the Rebuild process?

A: Much of Carousel House programming has moved to Gustine Rec (which has been made physically accessible). Erica is on the call and is supporting the programming there. PPR will be increasing the amount of inclusive programming across the city in different rec centers.

Q: Will the new building be in the same location or a different one?

A: The building will be at the same site but exact footprint within the site may be different based on input we hear about changes/improvements to where entrances are located.

Q: Will the Carousel House Rebuild project be solely for the disabled community?

A: The new Carousel House facility will be all-inclusive and all-accessible. Programming and spaces will be sizable enough to meet all interested participants’ needs.

Questions?

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MEET AND GREET

IN-PERSON MEETING

Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021

6PM-7PM

Gustine Recreation Center

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Stay in Touch!

  • Rebuild

  • Community Capacity Builders

Thank you for your time and dedication!