Kathryn Ott: Latest News

PHILADELPHIA - Officials with the City of Philadelphia say 80% of pools in the city will be open this summer. Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell joined Good Day Philadelphia from the Samuel Recreation Center in Port Richmond for the special announcement. RELATED HEADLINESThe pools will begin opening between June 21 and July 15, according to the parks and recreation department. The openings come amid a national lifeguard shortage that is leading to a number of older adults joining the workforce to patrol city pools. Robin Borland, a 70-year-old Philadelphia resident, is one of 16 senior citizen lifeguards who are stepping up amid a city-wide shortage.The following pools will be opening starting next week. Tuesday, June 21  Wednesday, June 22  Thursday, June 23 Friday, June 24  Monday, June 27 Tuesday, June 28  Wednesday, June 29  Thursday, June 30 Friday, July 1  Saturday, July 2 Week of July 4 Week of July 11To find the pool nearest you, click here. 

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.

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - The Vare Recreation Center is getting much needed rehabilitation and leaders hope the facelift provides more than just a safe space for kids to play."This is a massive part of this community, this is a massive place for kids," Eagles Center Jason Kelce said.Football stars, elected city officials and community members braved the warm South Philadelphia sun, Wednesday, to celebrate the ground-breaking of a massive rebuilding of an iconic Philly recreation center.MORE HEADLINES:"Let me just say this – our kids deserve this. They deserve quality spaces," Mayor Kenney remarked.The project, spearheaded by the Rebuild Project and funded, in part, by the city’s soda tax, will bring a plethora of state-of-the-art centers to the area."The new Vare will be close to 19,000 square feet.

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.