equipped the play area. boasts “probably one of the nicest playgrounds in ,” said Keith year.Today,school school 2012 the the for time in project the complete to push successful a for gathered volunteers 150 than More field. soccer a and court basketball refurbished a tables, Wells checker and chess by Fargo), (sponsored workstation iPad an greenhouse, a playground, a including renovation outdoor complete a for $300,000 donated dation school. the of radius 10-block a within outdoors play to place safe other no is rme o Kma, h pagon mnfcue ta dsge and designed that manufacturer playground the Kompan, of Grimley pitcher for the . His foundation in previous years has unteers with the finishing touches. Cole Hamels is the left-handed starting contributed smaller amounts to different schools, but last year elected to sponsor a“landmark project,” said board member James Maransky. ters, science labs, music and performing arts programs, libraries, after- libraries, programs, arts performing and music labs, science ters, Previous grants have gone toward outdoor garden programs, fitness cen- city.the in deeds good his on build to continue tosummer, him enabling ball legacy. However, the Phillies signed Hamels to a six-year contract last lated he wanted to leave a positive mark on Philadelphia besides his base- ucational ucational and recreational play yard, where children not only let off steam has recommended that Taylor Elementary, along with 34 other schools, other 34 with Elementary, along Taylor that recommended has school athletic programs and team uniforms. named for another legendary ballplayer. legendary another for named be closed. If approved, the closures will take place June 30. Ironically, Tay- playground grant. playground lor students would be reassigned to Promise Academy, including Wilson Elementary School which in 2010 received a $50,000 a received 2010 in which School Elementary Wilson including is ultimately up to the district, with the public’s input. public’s the with district, the to up ultimately is erous press coverage, the $300,000 grant to Taylor went toward a new ed- A Dream Realized BY DAWN KLINGENSMITH BAYARD TAYLOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL U But things started looking up on June 1, 2012, when the Hamels Foun- Hamels the when 2012, 1, June on up looking started things But Foundation founders Cole and Heidi Hamels were on hand to help vol- help to hand on were Hamels Heidi and Cole founders Foundation As rumors mounted that the Phillies might trade Hamels, some specu- some Hamels, trade might Phillies the that mounted rumors As Now, in a strange twist to the story,Philadelphia the of toNow, District twistSchool strangethe a in w ohr aesspotd col ae lo n h copn block, chopping the on also are schools Hamels-supported other Two Met Met with excitement—the school principal called it “a dream”—and gen- decision the but closings, three the fight to vowed has foundation The FOR APRINTABLE VERSIONOFTHISSTORY, VISIT School District of Philadelphia: Kompan: Hamels Foundation: DuMor: derelict parking lot. It was scarcely better than nothing, as there as nothing, than better scarcely was It lot. parking derelict tl 02 cide a Byr Tyo Eeetr Sho in School Elementary a resembling Taylor blacktop a on played and Bayard exercised Philadelphia at children 2012, ntil www.dumor.com kompan.com kompan.com FOR MORE INFORMATION MORE FOR www.thehamelsfoundation.org Facility Profile SCHOOLS www.phila.k12.pa.us W WW.RECMANAGEMENT.COM PHILADELPHIA W W W . R E C M A N through through play but also learn lessons in science, technology, physical Aesthetic elements include trees, landscaping beds and a mural de- by the site furnishings company DuMor, as well as the greenhouse. education and teamwork. picting Hamel’s wind-up. Hamel’s picting plorer Dome, a rope climbing structure that Grimley likens to a to likens Grimley that structure climbing rope a Dome, plorer giant spider web. Spinners, climbing structures and other play- other and structures climbing Spinners, web. spider giant ground equipment in school colors complete the play area, where area, play the complete colors school in equipment ground Hamel’s autograph appears in the rubber surfacing. he he added. “They arrive at school early, and it looks like recess time. said. Maransky grant by a large margin; however, the school received several thou- Before, they’d just stand there and wait for the doors to open.” sand dollars’ worth of donated services, equipment and manpower, their investment, while parents and children worry about the fate the about worry children and parents while investment, their risk. Neighborhood children currently use it after hours and on and hours after it use currently children Neighborhood risk. at imminently so yet and dedicated newly so oasis, urban their of weekends. playground are being studied. being are playground was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. its ornate entrance pavilion, stone detailing and brick parapet. Built in in 1907-08 and named for poet and author Bayard Taylor, the school A Educational components include the game and work tables, all tables, work and game the include components Educational The 4,000-square-foot playground is dominated by Kompan’s Ex- is by dominated Kompan’s playground The 4,000-square-foot Altogether, the project’s cost would have exceeded the $300,000 the exceeded have would cost Altogether,project’s the “To say the kids are thrilled with the results is an understatement,” The The project’s donors and volunteers wonder what will become of At a December public forum, a school official said plans for the for plans said official school a forum, public December a At Also up in the air is the fate of the historic school building, with building, school historic the of fate the is air the in up Also G E M E 2 0 N 1 T 3 .

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF DUMOR INC.