In honor of the Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia’s second anniversary, parent company Cordish Companies Tuesday announced a donation of $750,000 to Rebuild Philadelphia. The donation will be used to finish the renovation of the Murphy Recreation Center in South Philadelphia by fall 2023.
“Murphy Recreation Center has served as a hub for community gathering in South Philly for decades. As a family-owned business, we can appreciate how important it is for families to have a safe place to come together. They deserve the best and we look forward to going on this transformational journey with them,” said Cordish Gaming Group Chief Operating & Development Officer Joe Billhimer in a statement.
Proposed site improvements include new turf for football, baseball, softball, and soccer fields and new basketball courts. New sidewalks, fencing, and landscaping will also be installed.
“Rebuild is proud to invest in the improvements at Murphy Recreation Center and it would not be possible without the generous contribution from Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia,” said Rebuild Executive Director Kira Strong. “Through the combination of city and Rebuild funding and incredible community partnerships like Live!, we are able to deliver on the Rebuild promise to engage with the community to understand their vision and invest intentionally to deliver a quality resource in their neighborhood.”
The Murphy Recreation Center renovation is part of the Rebuild Philadelphia’s initiative to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Philadelphia parks, recreation centers, and libraries.
“The energy in our city is electric right now and today’s celebration fuels even more excitement, especially in South Philadelphia,” said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, who developed the Rebuild Philadelphia initiative. “The soon-to-be improved recreation center is a dynamic, accessible hub for children, families, and residents to play and gather. The upgrades make room for new opportunities and connections, and it may even be the home field of the next NFL star. My administration and I are looking forward to seeing the memories that will be made in this space.”
Including the Rebuild Philadelphia donation, Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia’s total charitable contributions to date total more than $2.3 million in cash and in-kind support.