Advocates and councilmembers press for rebuilding of Carousel House recreation center for people with disabilities

Members of the public and councilmembers used Philadelphia City Council's public-comment period on Sept. 18 to press the city to repair and reopen Carousel House, a recreation center that served people with disabilities and has been closed since June 2021.

Carousel House supporters said the center’s closure has displaced wheelchair basketball and other accessible programs; they asked council to hold Rebuild and the Department of Recreation to their commitments. ‘‘We need your help. We need you to please come to the aid of the disability community of the city,’’ said Michael Martin, who described programs running at roughly 50% capacity after relocation.

The petitioners described Carousel House as a long-standing, fully accessible facility that supported people with disabilities for more than 50 years. Roseanne Curlin, who testified in support of council resolution 250734, said reopening the center should be a priority: ‘‘Please city council help us repair and reopen Carousel House.’’ Tamar Riley, another supporter, told council members promises from Rebuild have been unfulfilled and expressed frustration about a lack of communication from city agencies.

Councilman Curtis Jones Jr., whose district includes the facility, responded directly during public comment and characterized earlier commitments to the project. He said a prior City Hall appropriation of $12,000,000 for Carousel House was overtaken by inflation and project delays and that current cost estimates are ‘‘close to $40,000,000.’’ Jones pledged the project would move forward: ‘‘We’re gonna rebuild Carousel House... My name is Curtis Jones and you got my word on it.’’

Councilmembers did not take a final vote on a binding directive for immediate construction during the session. Instead, speakers sought to use the public record and council influence to press Rebuild and the Department of Recreation to accelerate work and restore dedicated, accessible space for disabled users. Several commenters said interim accommodations at other centers, including Gustine Recreation Center, are overcrowded and not an adequate long-term substitute.

Council members and advocates asked for clearer timelines and better communication from implementing agencies. Supporters noted both programmatic impacts—many activities now run at reduced capacity—and broader equity concerns about access to recreation and continuity of services for people with disabilities.

Curtis Jones’s pledge creates an explicit political commitment recorded in the session; it does not by itself authorize expenditures or change contracts. Any follow-up work or funding would require actions by the mayor’s office, Rebuild, and relevant city departments or future council votes.