Emmanuel, Age 6, first came to the Lil’ Philly Safety Village to learn to ride with pedals and returned for our annual Bike Safety & Community Resource Fair. Over the past year, with many visits, the support of our Play Ambassadors, and the safe space that Philly’s only traffic park provides, he now rides smoothly and confidently and showed off his skills last Saturday.
Thanks to the support of PECO, Emmanuel and a total of 28 kids received free helmets and bike lights and education on how to properly wear a helmet at the third annual Bike Safety & Community Fair at the Lil’ Philly Safety Village last Saturday, October 21st, 2023. We also raffled off a kids bike, thanks to the generosity of AmeriSource Bergen. Additional thanks to our partners; Tree House Books for giving out books on the Bookmobile, Safe Routes Philly, Hunting Park Community Garden, North 10, Kaboom, and thanks to our volunteers and Play Ambassadors, Tanaya and Angela, and DJ India for making the event come alive!
The Lil’ Philly Safety Village opened in August 2021 and is the first of its kind in Philadelphia, offering kids an opportunity to learn about bike safety and riding in a safe environment. The traffic park was created with the support of Kaboom! and the William Penn Foundation, the McLean Contributionship, the Ron Jaworski Foundation, Mimi Sheller, Piscitello Law, and 130+ other individuals whose funding turned this long-held dream of the Bicycle Coalition into a reality. Philly Parks and Recreation also made this project possible by helping with project management and making the ~4,568 sq ft. parcel available for Lil’ Philly’s construction. The Lil’ Philly Safety Village is one of 2 Neighborhood Bike Hubs that the Bicycle Coalition is growing to increase access to safe biking across the city.
Come check it out yourself! The Lil’ Philly Safety Village is located in Hunting Park and is open anytime the park is open.
Come on out this Saturday, October 28th, 10-12, for the last Saturday of the Year with Play Ambassadors supporting play and free bike rentals.