CAROUSEL HOUSE REBUILD

COMMUNITY RELAUNCH

Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 6:00PM-7:30PM

Agenda

• Please keep phones on silent or turned off to minimize distractions. Feel free to take calls outside of the room.

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• Bathrooms are wheelchair-accessible and located to the left of the main entrance.

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• Please make sure you have filled out a sign-in sheet before the end of the meeting.

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• Our ASL interpreters are Julie Gould Marothy and Susan Chinnici Moyer from DHI, LLC

Meeting Housekeeping

Welcome from Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner,

Susan Slawson

Welcome from Capital Program Office Deputy Managing Director,

Aparna Palantino

1. About the Project

Capital Program Office (CPO) and Rebuild

In April 2024, Mayor Cherelle Parker created the Capital Program Office (CPO) to:

• Help the City plan and complete major construction projects
• Manage construction projects previously supervised by the Department of Public Property, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, and Rebuild

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CPO is committed to completing the Carousel House Rebuild project, which will create a better facility for all. The completed project will retain all former programing and be inclusive for all participants.

Project Focus

Satellite image of the Carousel House with Rebuild project scope outlined in yellow

The existing playground

The existing gym

The existing pool

Project Timeline

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• Stakeholder Discussions
• Meet and Greet

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• Kick-Off Design Workshop
• Celebrating History Pop-ups
• Community Update

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• Design Workshop
• Public Art Meeting
• Community Update

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• Site and Building Analysis

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• Community Relaunch

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• Final Design Share Out

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• Groundbreaking Ceremony
• Community Updates

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• Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

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we are here!

Angelina Castro

Project Director

Rebuild

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Heather McClain

Community Engagement

Manager

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Rebuild is the City’s historic investment of over $500 million in 72 neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and libraries across Philadelphia.

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Tess Donie

Director of External Affairs

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Project Lead: CPO and Rebuild

Project Design: DIGSAU

Adria Longenderfer, AIA

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

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Jules Dingle, FAIA

Ryan Drummond, AIA

DaMario Walker-Brown

Caitlin Feroce

Siman Huang

Karen L Braitmayer, FAIA

Joyce Klontz, AIA

K Wheeler

Project Design: Studio Pacifica

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.

Project Design: Ground Reconsidered

Julie Bush, ASLA

Keena Miles

Ground Reconsidered, Inc. is a woman-owned landscape architecture practice dedicated to creating engaging, beautiful, and memorable places. Our designs respond to visual and physical cues from the environment as well as to the meaning and purpose a place has to its users.

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Kristen Loughry, ASLA

Donna Griffin

Marangeli Mejia-Rabell

Community Capacity Builders (CCB) is working with Rebuild to build relationships and engage community members in the Carousel House Rebuild project. CCB centers the voices and expertise of site users and residents in the design process.

Jenny Chen

Meg Lemieur

Engagement: Community Capacity Builders

2. What We’ve Heard

Engagement Activities

Meet and Greet

November 2021

Kick-Off Design Workshop

Existing Conditions & Proposed Indoor Spaces

February 2022

Celebrating History Pop-ups

Summer 2022

Community Update

September 2022

Design Workshop

Proposed Building Plan

March 2023

Public Art Meeting

November 2023

March 2023 Design Workshop

Community Update

Draft Design for Outdoor Areas

February 2024

Who We’ve Talked With

Carousel House stakeholders sharing their priorities and ideas with the Rebuild team.

Who We’ve Talked With

• Carousel House staff, Advisory Council, participants, and activity leaders

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• Service providers and advocates

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• Parkside organizations, businesses, institutions, and resident leaders

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• Local political leaders

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• PPR and others involved in the Centennial District Plan

3. Design: Indoor Spaces

PROPOSED

(March 2023)

Vision for the Future Building

EXISTING

GUT REHAB

NEW GYM

NEW POOL

NEW

LOCKER ROOMS

existing

building foundation

2-COURT GYM

LAP POOL &

ACTIVITY POOL

LOCKER ROOMS

KITCHEN

MECHANICAL & STORAGE

COMPUTER/TECH ROOM

MULTI-PURPOSE ROOMS

SENSORY ROOM

STAFF OFFICES

FITNESS ROOM

ART & CERAMICS

SECONDARY

ENTRY

MULTI-

PURPOSE

ATRIUM

RESTROOMS

STORAGE

STORAGE

MAIN ENTRY

Proposed Indoor Spaces

(March 2023)

2-COURT GYM

LAP POOL &

ACTIVITY POOL

ATRIUM

MAIN

ENTRANCE

ART & CERAMICS

FITNESS ROOM

RESTROOMS &

LOCKER ROOMS

MULTI-PURPOSE ROOMS

COMPUTER/TECH ROOM

SENSORY ROOMS

KITCHEN

RECEPTION &

STAFF OFFICES

RESTROOMS

Proposed Indoor Spaces

(Oct. 2025)

Designing for Access

• Additional accessible parking spaces
• Wide, motion-activated doors
• Bleachers with wheelchair spaces
• Multi-size, multi-function seating
• Lower reception desk
• Accessible entry to performance stage and pools
• Adult changing tables
• Adaptable fitness equipment
• Adult-sized playground equipment
• Wheelchair-friendly playground surface
• …and more!

Motion-activated doors

Adult changing table

Entering the Carousel House

Main Entrance

Atrium

(6,500 SF)

Reception

(270 SF)

Illustration of the atrium

Multipurpose Atrium

Banquet

Speaker Event

Atrium set up for a speaker event

Gym

2 side-by-side basketball courts

Divider curtain

Walking & mobility loop

Illustration of the new Carousel House gym

14,450 SF

Pool

- Lots of circulation space

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- Wheelchair storage space on pool deck

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Lap Pool

(2,770 SF)

Activity Pool with Sloping Entrance

(2,000 SF)

Wet Classroom

Activity pool and lap pool

Zero-entry activity pool

9,900 SF

Restrooms and Locker Rooms

Near gym:

• Men’s bathroom
• Women’s bathroom
• Gender-neutral bathroom

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Near pool:

• 2 gender-neutral showers
• 2 gender-neutral bathrooms
• Men’s locker room
• Women’s locker room

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Near fitness room:

• 1 gender-neutral bathroom

Shower stalls with benches

and changing area

Locker room with backed

benches and low lockers

Art & Ceramics

- Fits 12-20 people

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- Can also be used as a meeting room

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Art room with tables and storage

Table

Kiln

580 SF

Fitness Room

Mat area & storage cubbies

Adaptive universal machine

Equipment:

• Adaptive universal machine
• Adaptive rowing machine
• 2 hand cycles
• Free weights
• Treadmill
• Recumbent stationary bike
• Stair climber
• Bench press
• Transfer bench
• Mat area

Cubbies

900 SF

Kitchen

To be used for:

- After school and summer camp lunches

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- Event catering (reheating only)

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- Event concessions

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Kitchen with a concession window

Fridges

Fridges

Sink

Cooktop

300 SF

Computer/Tech Room & Sensory Room

- 10 computer stations with adaptive equipment

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- Sensory room in a quiet part of the building

Sensory room at Lincoln Financial Field

Adaptive computer equipment

Computer/Tech Room

(630 SF)

Sensory

Room

(100 SF)

Multi-Purpose Rooms

- For meetings, classes, fitness

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- Lots of storage

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Large tables and whiteboards

Cubbies

Sink

960 SF

650 SF

The Building’s Look and Feel

What We Heard and Neighborhood Inspiration

fun and inviting

make it look like part of the neighborhood

keep the outside looking like a carousel

Stone at the Please Touch Museum

Mix of colors in the neighborhood

Carousel House Inspiration

The blues, yellows, and reds in the existing building’s features…

…inspired the color and pattern on the outside of the new building

Proposed Building Exterior

Inviting Graphic Pattern

Light Concrete Band

4. Design: Outdoor Areas

Existing Outdoor Areas

Farm

Playground

Drop-Off

Avenue of the Republic

South Concourse Drive

Belmont Avenue

Entrance

Walking Loop

Parking

Proposed Outdoor Areas

Playground

Parking

Car & Van Drop-Off

South Concourse Drive

Belmont Avenue

Loading &

Bus Drop-Off

Avenue of the Republic

Gym

Pool

Getting to the Carousel House

Bus

Car or Van

Main

entrance

Back entrance

South Concourse Drive

Belmont Avenue

Avenue of the Republic

Gym

Pool

South Concourse Drive

Belmont Avenue

Avenue of the Republic

Gym

Pool

Parking

59 total spots

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26 spots will be ADA-accessible:

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17 of these 26 spots are labelled as ADA parking. This will allow for flexible usage.

Standard space

Accessible van parking

Accessible car parking

Trees

New shade trees

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New ornamental trees

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Existing shade trees preserved

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South Concourse Drive

Belmont Avenue

Avenue of the Republic

Gym

Pool

Outdoor Furniture

Tables

Bike Racks

Trash Cans

Bench

Game Table

Seating

Picnic Table

The 6 carousel poles will be placed in a ring at the drop-off loop, welcoming community members to the building!

Existing Carousel Poles

Repurposing the Carousel Poles

Playground Options

Two Playground Options

Option A

Option B

• 8 swings
• Mound with slides
• Musical equipment
• More free-standing equipment

• 6 swings
• Larger equipment
• Less free-standing equipment

Equipment in Both Playground Options

Swings

Fence Activity

Serenity Spot

Spinner

Rocker

Roller Table

Communication Board

Play Structure (Younger Play)

Play Structure (Older Play)

Musical Instruments

Slides

Option A: Unique Equipment

Option B:

Unique Equipment

Inclusive Merry-Go-Round

Play Structure (Younger Play)

Play Structure (Older Play)

Two Playground Options

Option A

Option B

• 8 swings
• Mound with slides
• Musical equipment
• More free-standing equipment

• 6 swings
• Larger equipment
• Less free-standing equipment

5. Percent for Art

  Percent for Art Overview: Funding

• The City of Philadelphia’s Percent for Art Program commissions beautiful and enduring artworks which reflect the diversity of Philadelphia.

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• City-funded renovation or construction projects with budgets over $1 million are eligible.

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• Percent for Art designates 1% of the total construction budget to site-specific, permanent public art.

Sculpture “Weaver’s Knot: Sheet Bend” by Ball-Nogues Studio

Children interacting with the sculpture “MVP” by Brian McCutcheon

Creative Philadelphia | City Hall, Room 116 | Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-686-8846 | CreativePHL.org | @CreativePHL

PERCENT FOR ART

IS COMING TO CAROUSEL HOUSE!

Creative Philadelphia | City Hall, Room 116 | Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-686-8846 | CreativePHL.org | @CreativePHL

  Give your input!

• Creative Philadelphia has already begun seeking input from the community

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• Based on your feedback so far, we've narrowed down the artwork options to either:
• Tactile wall piece inside the atrium OR
• Outdoor sensory-friendly sculptures

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Creative Philadelphia | City Hall, Room 116 | Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-686-8846 | CreativePHL.org | @CreativePHL

6. Next Steps

Next Steps

• Ask friends to sign up for the Carousel House Rebuild newsletter (tinyurl.com/chstayupdated) and check out the project website at www.carouselhouserebuild.org

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• Check your email for a recording of this meeting

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• Stay tuned for information about the final design share-out and celebration!

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Stay In Touch!

• Rebuild
• Tess Donie, tess.donie@phila.gov
• Rebuild, rebuild@phila.gov

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• Community Capacity Builders
• Donna Griffin, donna@ccbconsult.org
• Jenny Chen, jenny@ccbconsult.org

7. Engagement and Feedback

Brief Q&A

Share your thoughts and priorities for the new Carousel House! There are 6 stations where you can ask questions and share ideas with Rebuild, PPR, Percent for Art, and the design team. Each station focuses on a different topic:

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1. Gym and Pool
2. Other Indoor Spaces
3. Outdoor Areas and Playground Options
4. Accessible Features
5. Percent for Art
6. Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Inclusive Programs

Design Stations

• Visit the stations in any order.

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• You may visit as many or as few stations as you would like.

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• If you require sign language interpretation, please come to the front and we will make sure you have an interpreter.

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• We will make an announcement when there are :15 minutes and :5 minutes remaining in the event.

Instructions

For community members who are viewing the livestream, you can share your feedback and questions using this online survey:

Online Survey Option

tinyurl.com/chrelaunchsurvey

scan with your phone!