Outdoor Movies, Concerts and Bachata Classes are Coming to the Newly Developed “Pause Park” in Frankford
The Frankford CDC, a community development organization located in the lower Northeast section of Philadelphia, just announced its fall
community event series in the newly completed Frankford Pause Park (4673 Paul St.), September 8 – October 22, 2022.
The event series kicks off on Thursday, September 8th with the Pause Park Playlist, a weekly showcase featuring some of the best up-and-coming local musicians curated and hosted by Philadelphia’s own Queen Jo. Attendees will experience a live DJ set in the park including performances by Prlm Chld, It’s
Feese, T. Marie, and more. In addition to the music series, residents and visitors can look forward to food truck Fridays, free Bachata dance lessons provided by Controla Dance Academy, family-friendly outdoor movie screenings, sip & paint nights, a community resource fair, and a neighborhood street festival on
Saturday, October 22nd. Thanks to Frankford business owner, Herbert Sample of El Lounge, drink tickets for alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.
“We constructed a temporary installation of the Frankford Pause Park in 2018 and solicited a lot of community feedback about what did and did not work in the park, so we are thrilled to finally invite the public to the permanent edition of the park this fall,” says Kimberly Washington, Esq., executive director,
Frankford CDC. “This is the perfect opportunity for Philadelphia residents and visitors who have never experienced Frankford to rediscover our business corridor and enjoy the community programming in the park. We can’t wait to share this with everyone!”
Frankford Pause Park is one of several projects developed as part of the Frankford CDC’s Reimagining Margaret-Orthodox initiative, a five-year development strategy derived from engaging residents about transforming Frankford Avenue around the Arrott Transportation Center through improvements to vacant
buildings and implementing facade and streetscape improvements. The Frankford CDC’s goal is to change residents’ perception of their neighborhood, restore a sense of place and pride in Frankford, and spur further development and investment along the corridor.
“My business has been in the Frankford community for almost 16 years and it’s exciting to see the transformation happening in our neighborhood,” said Peter Ng, owner of Frankford Beverage Distributor. “The new park not only beautifies the block but it will hopefully bring much-needed traffic and attention
to all of the businesses in the area.”
Frankford Pause Park was developed on a blighted vacant lot that consistently experienced illegal dumping at 4671-73 Frankford Avenue. The concept for the space was designed through a grant from the Community Design Collaborative in 2014. The first phase of renovations was completed in 2017. Building off of the momentum from the conceptual design process, Hinge Collective engaged residents around a design for the permanent installation that now includes a rain garden to manage stormwater runoff from the Market-Frankford Line’s elevated structure, a built-in stage for outdoor performances, tall trees, vibrant shade cloths, and string lights to brighten the area at night.
The pilot phase was made possible through partnerships with the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, the Community Design Collaborative, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society; and funding from ArtPlace America and PECO Green Region. Phase 2 was made possible through funding and support from Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Program, the Philadelphia Water Department, and the Philadelphia Department of Commerce. A Kaboom! Play Everywhere project, funded by the William
Penn Foundation, is forthcoming.
All of the events in this fall series will take place at the Frankford Pause Park and are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. For more information on the event series or for details on booking Frankford Pause Park for private events, please visit frankfordcdc.org.
Schedule of events
Frankford Pause Playlist. Curated and hosted by Queen Jo. FREE 5:30 – 8:00 PM
● Thursday, September 8th: Feese, T Marie, Problem Child
● Thursday, September 15th: Essence Natay, RaeDianz, Kara
● Thursday, September 22nd: Frenchie, Mariah Geez, Seriah Nicole.
● Thursday, September 29th: Sing Kriss, Solomon, Nadir
● Thursday, October 6th: Taylor Kelly, Kingsley, JacqCon
● Thursday, October 13th: Reef The Lost Cauze, Aime, Joie Kathos
Reel Fun Fridays Outdoor movie nights. Free 7:00 PM
● Friday, September 16th, Encanto
● Friday, October 14th, Ghostbusters (1984)
Community Resource Day. Adult and family resources
FREE 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
● Saturday, October 15th
Paint. Pause. Sip. ARTrageous Brush and Flow
Tickets $17
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
● Wednesday, September 14th
● Wednesday, October 12th
Bachata Dance Class, Controla Dance Academy
FREE 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
● Friday, September 9th
● Friday, September 23rd
● Friday, September 30th
● Friday, October 7th
Food Truck Fridays
Pay as you go. Details can be found at frankfordcdc.org.
● Friday, September 9th
● Friday, September 16th
● Friday, September 23rd
● Friday, September 30th
● Friday, October 7th
● Friday, October 14th
Frankford Street Festival
Pay as you go. 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
● Saturday, October 22nd
