Barkan Park

Friends of Barkan Park
Present

A Playground

Ribbon-Cutting &

Appreciation

Ceremony for

Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell
Saturday, October 22
12 to 2 PM postponed due to RAIN
50th & Spruce Streets
Call 215 990 6254 for More info
Barkan Park has 25 year history in West Philadelphia. The park area was once a tennis court. The park was named in honor of Ben Barkan who was the founder of the Garden Court Community Association. Ben Barkan, his wife Silvia Barkan and the Community Association were instrumental in preventing the area from becoming a gas station. When Ben Barkan died in 1969, to recognize him for all the years of active work maintaining a unified community, it was agreed that the park should be named after him. During the fall in 1999, a group of neighbors in the Garden Court Community and other West Philadelphia neighbors, under the leadership of Carolyne and Mark Krull, took interest in the park and in March of 2000. The Friends of Barkan Park was founded, having Silvia Barkan as part of the membership. When the park opened, it had a fountain in the area where the playground is today. In the early 90’s the Tri-Block Neighbors convinced the City to construct a small playground. Today we come together to an expanded playground area and other improvements to Barkan Park