Elected officials, city officials announce $2 million in funding for Monkiewicz’ Athletic Fields
Rep. Joseph C. Hohenstein October 14, 2026 | 1:10 PM
PHILADLEPHIA, Oct. 14 – On Tuesday, state Rep. Joe Hohenstein, state Sen. Tina Tartaglione, City Councilmember Mike Driscoll, and the City of Philadelphia Capital Program Office hosted a news conference at Monkiewicz Playground to announce $2 million in state funding being awarded to them.
Monkiewicz Playground, located on Richmond Street in Northeast Philadelphia and bisected by I-95, provides an array of amenities including leisure playgrounds, and a range of sports facilities including a bike path, baseball field, soccer field, American football field, tennis court, basketball court, and swimming pool. The funding will be used to restore Monkiewicz's athletic fields.
Monkiewicz Playground is bisected by I-95 and has been closed for 15 years due to a PennDOT I-95 project. The soil at the site was found to be contaminated with lead, and remediation is necessary before it is reopened to the public.
Hohenstein and Tartaglione, both D-Phila., recently secured the funding through the statewide Local Share Account Program.
“Our legacy exists in our public spaces. Long after our lives end, our legacy remains with the land we leave for future generations,” said Hohenstein, D-Phila. “Our work will open up the field behind me for children to play and for families and the community to come together.”
“Every neighborhood deserves safe, welcoming places where children can play, families can gather, and communities can come together. This $2 million investment in Monkiewicz Playground is an important step toward restoring the East Side fields and giving this community the recreational space it deserves,” said Tartaglione. “I’m grateful to Representative Joe Hohenstein, Councilmember Mike Driscoll, and the city for their partnership in moving this project forward. There is more work to do, but we are delivering on our commitment to this neighborhood and investing in a better future for its children and families.”
The scope of the project is the remediation and renovation of the East Side Fields. The East Side will include softball and baseball fields, as well as a community picnic area. This phase involves building up the existing walls, laying a cloth barrier, covering the area with clean fill, grading, seeding, and cutting the fields.
“I am pleased to join with Senator Tartaglione and Representative Hohenstein to announce the funding needed to begin the design and future construction of the East Side athletic fields at Monkiewicz,” Driscoll said. “This is a prime example of the state and city working together for the benefit of the local community for many years to come.”
Aparna Palantino, deputy managing director of the City of Philadelphia Capital Program Office, offered the following comment on the importance of government partnerships to fund these types of projects:
“Strong partnerships at every level of government are essential to delivering lasting improvements to the public spaces that Philadelphia neighborhoods depend on. Thanks to the leadership of Representative Hohenstein, Senator Tartaglione, and Councilmember Driscoll, we're one step closer to restoring the athletic fields at Monkiewicz Playground and creating more opportunities for residents of all ages to play, connect, and enjoy their neighborhood. We look forward to getting this important project underway.”