Taking the Good and Bad at Kendrick Rec. Center

Moving an established boxing program to an undersized basement room,  organizers say, exemplifies the dichotomy at Kendrick Recreation Center.

The Ridge Avenue facility operated by the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department leaves its citizen advisory council taking the good with the bad. Whether its citizen involvement, crime, or facility repairs, Kendrick yields both positive and negative results.

One seemingly positive—what director Bill Malizia calls a "win-win"—leaves another program in the dark. The Department of Parks and Recreation greenlighted the restoration of a drama program in the building's auditorium. However, this moves the boxing program to the basement, which organizers say will shrink it.

In 2011, the Kendrick Recreation Advisory Council reformed when a leaky roof threatened programing. The eventual outcome resulted in a short-term patch job, and long-term new roof, which Malizia said is now out to bid.

When city officials and a crowd over 100 met beck then, the auditorium's standards also became a point of contention. Nearly a year later, with no drama program present, the city plans to move boxing to the basement to make room upstairs. However, boxing organizer Bruce Adams said the city went back on its word. He contends Parks and Recreation planned to knock down a wall and give him two rooms. Now, it's down to one.

"With that wall knocked out, it'd be hard do it... but now, to squeeze everything into one room, I don't know how it will be done," Adams said.

Council advisory member and youth basketball organizer Brian Morris said the planned made no sense.

"I agree they should put a drama program upstairs, but until they knock that wall down, you should stay up there," Morris said.

Adams said about 20 kids currently utilize the upstairs boxing ring and training area six days a week, with revenue coming in to Kendrick. Participation fluctuates throughout the year when other team sports are active, and Adams said it fills a much-needed voided.

"Boxing saves a lot of lives. Some kids aren't into team sports.... And in the 19127, 28, 29 zip codes, there isn't any options," he said.

On that issue, Joshua Cohen, special adviser to Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr., promised to write a letter requesting the basement wall—which Kendrick staff said was not load-bearing—be removed for the boxing program.

Malizia said that problem embodies the back and forth of Kendrick. The summer pool season, he said, was incident free, despite being two weeks longer. However, he also detailed recent incidents where juveniles were arrested for breaking into the building. Those negatives, however, alerted the complex to window and door weaknesses and repairs have been made.

Additionally, the sparse crowd at the Kendrick Advisory Council meeting discouraged those present. At the same time, the building and fields teemed with activity through gymnastics, boxing, Manayunk Sport a Social and other activities.

People use the facility but a void exists in strategic planners.

"Groups come in to use the facility and that's it They don't come to the table at all," Malizia said.

Cohen agreed.

"Councilman Jones said Kendrick is a priority, and it is a priority. And that the facilities improve here is a major priority," Cohen said. "We want to do something major here, but it's a shame there's not more people at the meeting."

Morris, son of legendary high school and collegiate basketball coach Speedy Morris, has coached high school girls basketball and AAU ball for years. He runs his summer camps at Kendrick, and wants to throw a beef-and-beer fundraiser at JD McGillicuddys on Leverington Avenue. However, he says more residents and the city need to take an interest.

"I go to other playgrounds and I wonder, 'Why can't we get the improvements here?' We need that support. We need people to show they care about Kendrick Recreation Center," he said.

The next Kendrick Advisory Council meeting is Nov. 27.