The Penrose Elementary School community officially celebrated the opening of its newly transformed outdoor play space during a community-wide inauguration and celebration on Friday, July 31. The project includes a new mini-pitch, basketball court, plants and planters, custom seating, and student-designed public art, all co-created by students, families, educators, volunteers, and neighborhood residents.
Community celebration brought together Philadelphia leaders, Wrexham AFC Foundation, the Philadelphia Union Foundation, students, families, and partners to mark a new chapter for play in Southwest Philadelphia.
Penrose Elementary School is the 11th play space completed through the Philly Plays initiative, a citywide effort led by love.fútbol to create safe, community-driven places for sport and play throughout Philadelphia as part of the lasting legacy of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
The project also marks the first completed space through Power to Play, the international partnership between Wrexham AFC Foundation and love.fútbol that will bring community-driven sports spaces to neighborhoods in both the United States and Wales.
"Penrose is proof that the greatest legacy of sport isn't what happens inside a stadium, it's what happens in neighborhoods," said Drew Chafetz, CEO and Co-founder of love.fútbol. "This project belongs to the Penrose community because they designed it, built it, and will continue to bring it to life every day. We're proud to stand alongside incredible partners like Wrexham AFC Foundation and the Philadelphia Union Foundation to help create a place where every child can play, every family feels welcome, and this community can thrive for years to come."
"Philadelphia will always be home for me," said Rob McElhenney, Co-Chairman of Wrexham AFC. "It's incredibly meaningful to bring Power to Play to a city that has shaped so much of who I am. Through the Wrexham AFC Foundation's partnership with love.fútbol, we're creating more than places to play, we're investing in young people, strengthening communities, and building opportunities that can last for generations. Seeing Wrexham and Philadelphia connected through football and community is something I'm incredibly proud of."
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, children and families participated in free soccer and basketball clinics, games, music, food, and community activities celebrating the new space.
As Philadelphia continues building the lasting legacy of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Penrose demonstrates how global sporting events can create permanent investments that strengthen neighborhoods long after the final whistle.
Developed through months of community engagement, the transformed campus reflects the ideas, creativity, and leadership of Penrose students, parents, educators, and residents. From the student-designed basketball court to artwork created by local artist and Penrose parent Tanae Guerrant, every element of the project reflects the identity and aspirations of the community it serves.
The celebration marked more than the opening of a new sports space,it celebrated a lasting investment in youth, community, belonging, and opportunity.