Pottstown Play Streets Report Shares Impact of Program

This summer, the Pottstown Play Streets program drew 427 neighbors to outdoor community spaces through five events according to a fall 2023 report on the impact of the program.

The award-winning Pottstown Play Streets program is led by the Borough of Pottstown Parks and Recreation Department. They are part of the Pottstown Play Streets Coalition convened by the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation to help provide this program to Pottstown residents.

Pottstown Play Streets 2023 brought 427 residents together over the summer to build community and engage with members of the Play Streets coalition.

Play Streets is a summer outdoor program which temporarily closes a neighborhood block to traffic and provides play equipment to create safe, fun, and healthy spaces for children, families and neighborhoods to connect and play right outside their doors. Pottstown Play Streets aims to increase physical activity opportunities and promote community cohesion for children and families.

45% of attendees were children or teens and 55% of attendees were adults. The 27-member coalition developed a schedule that included seven events and one rain date; however, three events were cancelled due to the weather.

The Pottstown Play Streets report was prepared by Dr. Laura Lessard Associate Professor of Health Behavior & Nutrition Sciences at University of Delaware. It was designed to capture stories of impact, as well as opportunities to improve Pottstown Play Streets  in 2024 and beyond. Dr. Lessard completed an evaluation for Pottstown Play Streets 2022 and has provided similar support for Wilmington, Delaware’s Play Streets program.

Beyond the impact on children and families, Pottstown Play Streets provides opportunities to build connections and relationships. For more on the Pottstown Play Streets program, visit https://www.pottstownfoundation.org/playstreets.