Philadelphia was named the world’s first ‘Playful Learning City’ following the groundbreaking work of Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, the Stanley and Debra Lefkowitz Distinguished Faculty Fellow in the Department of Psychology, and her former doctorate student Sarah Lytle, who is the executive director of Playful Learning Landscapes. 

At a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 11 at Sister Cities Park, Temple educators, city leaders, preschoolers from Friends Child Care Center and families celebrated Philadelphia’s newest designation: the world’s first ‘Playful Learning City.’  
 
“We’re so proud of the work that gives Philadelphia this wonderful distinction,” said Sarah Lytle, CLA ’11, executive director of Playful Learning Landscapes and a developmental psychologist. 

Lytle helped create the Launch Pad at Sister Cities Park, which features colorful portals that feature inventions by children, encouraging children to see themselves as creators. 

The park’s newly unveiled Launch Pad installation, a lead-up to America’s 250th birthday, reflects the decades-long research of Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, the Stanley and Debra Lefkowitz Faculty Fellow in the Department of Psychology at Temple University. 

“We take every day spaces and we transform them. Whether they’re bus stops, library spaces, parks, we make them ‘playful learning’ because we embed the science into the public spaces,” Hirsh-Pasek said. “When people come and visit for the country’s 250th, it will be a defining marker for Philadelphia.” 

Lytle first encountered research in children’s play while earning her PhD as a student of Hirsh-Pasek in the College of Liberal Arts. Hirsh-Pasek's research in utilizing public spaces as places to learn and play inspired Lytle, who took off with the idea. She has worked closely with Hirsh-Pasek for the past decade.  

The Launch Pad installation is part of a network of 11 interactive installations across Philadelphia. Some of the other installations can be found at the Reading Terminal Market, Dilworth Park, the National Constitution Center, Elfreth’s Alley and the Franklin Institute. 

Each site is tailored to its surroundings and is based on an existing installation in Philadelphia neighborhoods. At the Franklin Institute, for example, children can explore concepts related to the sun, constellations and solar power through hands-on activities designed specifically for the museum’s outdoor environment. This design is based on a similar mural at Northstar Park in the East Parkside neighborhood of Philadelphia.

The project was supported by a $130,000 grant from the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative, a consortium of local philanthropic organizations, along with an additional $110,000 grant from the William Penn Foundation. 

To earn the Playful Learning City designation, cities must demonstrate multiple certified installations that are free, accessible, community-driven, and designed to reflect the languages and cultures of local residents. 

“Great cities, truly great cities, invest in their children,” said Mayor Cherelle Parker, as she announced the designation.  

“We can’t count on school to do everything for children when they only spend 20% of their waking time in school,” Hirsh-Pasek said. “So the question becomes, what can we do for children when they're not in school—with the other 80% of their time?” 

Hirsh-Pasek said listening to communities rather than prescribing solutions makes Playful Learning Landscapes unique. 

“Of all the projects I’ve worked on in my life,” Hirsh-Pasek said, “this one at Sisters Cities Park may be the most rewarding because it gives people a voice in their community and enables real growth for children and their adults.” 

The designation is also intended to serve as a model for other communities. San Diego and Chicago have already begun implementing similar approaches.  

“The biggest lesson from this project is that we often think of professors and experts going into communities, which is one-way,” she said. “We’ve changed that equation. It’s about listening, partnering and growing together.” 

Beginning Sept. 1, Playful Learning Landscapes will open applications for cities interested in becoming certified Playful Learning Cities. 

“This is the culmination of a lot of work,” Lytle said of the space. “And that represents everything I learned at Temple.”