Hunting Park

An 18-year-old woman was raped shortly after 7:30 p.m. Friday in a vacant garage on the 3700 block of North Watts Street, in the Hunting Park neighborhood of Philadelphia, police said. The suspect was described as 6 feet, 3 inches tall with a husky build, wearing a dark gray hooded sweatshirt and glasses with a scarf around his head, police said. He fled north on Watts. - Darran Simon

A woman was reported in extremely critical condition after being shot Wednesday night in the city's Hunting Park section, police said. The shooting occurred shortly before 9 p.m. in the 4200 block of North Darien Street, police said. The woman, possibly in her 20s, was in a second-floor bedroom when she was shot several times in the chest. She was taken to Temple University Hospital. No arrests were reported. - Robert Moran

On a chilly spring day, under a clear blue sky, the seasoned players of the Hunting Park Indians run drills over a patch of sandy dirt. In years past, they have practiced over lumpy, uneven fields featuring overgrown grass, rusted gates, and splintered benches. That will all change Friday afternoon when, about 200 yards from their practice spot, a world-class field will be dedicated. The lush, emerald-grass field doesn't flood. There are new bleachers, lights, and a giant scoreboard in left-center field.

When neighbors heard the gunfire in Hunting Park erupt Monday night, leaving one man dead and two other people wounded, they knew too well what to do. "Go lay on the floor and lock all the doors," said one 33-year-old mother who gave her name only as Anet, adding that she heard more than 10 shots. "This ain't the first time, and it ain't gonna be the last. " Police said gunfire from at least two weapons broke out just after 7:30 p.m. at Darien and Lycoming streets. A 19-year-old man took at least one bullet to the head, police said, and dropped to the pavement at the corner.

As a young girl growing up in Long Beach, Calif., I was fortunate to have access to public tennis courts. The opportunities for free instruction and available court time made a huge difference in my life and career. And I wasn't alone. Chris Evert, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, and so many great players from tennis got their start in a public park program. So, yes, the protection and the future of our public parks are near and dear to me. Programs like LOVE Your Park Week here in Philadelphia need our support and our attention.

THE DIRT-BIKERS and ATV four-wheelers gathered under a tree in Hunting Park one recent Sunday, the roar of their engines as much a part of the sunny scene as the ballplayers and picnickers and the guy selling barbecued chicken on skewers. As more and more riders arrived, they greeted each other with hugs and handshakes, admiring the modifications they made to their bikes and swapping stories about getaways, crashes and infamous rides, like Pupo's legendary 12-mile wheelie up I-95 that helped Philly "defeat" Baltimore in a friendly contest of skills.

HAS IT REALLY been 29 years? Well, as a matter of fact, yes. So who knew it would grow to this, after such a humble start? We're talking about Ron Jaworski's Celebrity Golf Challenge, set for Sunday and Monday at Atlantic City Country Club. The event has raised over $4 million for the Jaws Youth Playbook, which helps at-risk youth in the Greater Philadelphia region. "I would have never imagined it would be running this long, or had this much impact," said Jaworski, the former Eagles quarterback and longtime ESPN analyst.

Cleaning up where vandals struck over the winter, pupils from Cayuga Elementary School get their neighborhood pool in Hunting Park ready for its opening Memorial Day weekend. From left are Tracy McNeill, Ana Ayala, Kalisha Miller, Sabrina Reid and Nidia Perez.

A 5-year-old boy was seriously injured when he was struck by a dirt bike that fled the scene late Wednesday afternoon in the city's Hunting Park section, police said. About 5:05 p.m. at Ninth and Cayuga Streets, the boy was about to get into a car when he was hit by one of three dirt bikes speeding through the park, police said. The rider fell but was helped up by the other riders, and they all fled west through the park. The boy was taken by private automobile to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children.

LEROY FISHER recalled the good ol' days for Hunting Park yesterday. "When I was a child, it was a wonderful place," said Fisher, 42, president of Hunting Park United. "It had the carousel, the playground and the pool. It was a nice place to go. " But then, the bad ol' days of crime hit hard starting in the mid-1980s. "The park was not an attractive place," said Fisher, a school-bus driver. "There was a lot of drug use and prostitution. It wasn't a safe park. They didn't have good lighting.

HAS IT REALLY been 29 years? Well, as a matter of fact, yes. So who knew it would grow to this, after such a humble start? We're talking about Ron Jaworski's Celebrity Golf Challenge, set for Sunday and Monday at Atlantic City Country Club. The event has raised over $4 million for the Jaws Youth Playbook, which helps at-risk youth in the Greater Philadelphia region. "I would have never imagined it would be running this long, or had this much impact," said Jaworski, the former Eagles quarterback and longtime ESPN analyst.

As a young girl growing up in Long Beach, Calif., I was fortunate to have access to public tennis courts. The opportunities for free instruction and available court time made a huge difference in my life and career. And I wasn't alone. Chris Evert, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, and so many great players from tennis got their start in a public park program. So, yes, the protection and the future of our public parks are near and dear to me. Programs like LOVE Your Park Week here in Philadelphia need our support and our attention.

New Leash on Life USA - The sixth session ends May 13, and the program has expanded. In April, inmates at Graterford Prison started training dogs.   Inmates James Barkley - After he was approved for work-release, he started an internship at the Women's Humane Society in Bensalem. Last week, he was hired full time at the shelter, where they say, "He is fitting right in as a member of our team. "     Emerson Chase, aka "Dominic Hayes" - Working full time at the Hunting Park animal shelter and continues to do well.

A 5-year-old boy was seriously injured when he was struck by a dirt bike that fled the scene late Wednesday afternoon in the city's Hunting Park section, police said. About 5:05 p.m. at Ninth and Cayuga Streets, the boy was about to get into a car when he was hit by one of three dirt bikes speeding through the park, police said. The rider fell but was helped up by the other riders, and they all fled west through the park. The boy was taken by private automobile to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children.

A traveling carnival operation that was supposed to open Thursday to raise money for NAACP scholarships is still looking for a venue, after losing a bid to set up on city land in Hunting Park. "We don't allow carnivals," said Michael DiBerardinis, the deputy mayor in charge of parks and recreation. "Historically they've presented problems to us - there was a homicide attached to one at Russo Playground in the early 2000s . . .. No matter how well they're run, there's a lot of wear and tear and usually damage to the facilities, with all this heavy equipment and the crowds.

Family members were finalizing funeral arrangements Monday for retired professional boxer Tony Martin, 52, who was shot and killed Friday afternoon inside a Hunting Park rental property he owned. "It is senseless. It is terrible," Robyn Peete said of her uncle's slaying. "He was always happy-go-lucky. He had a heart of gold and a smile that would light up every room. " Two days after winning the IBF light-heavyweight title Saturday night, the Philadelphia fighter Bernard Hopkins spoke fondly of Martin at the Joe Hand Boxing Gym in North Philadelphia.

A 25-year-old man remained in critical condition Saturday after being shot six times in the Hunting Park neighborhood late Friday. Police said the man was shot shortly before midnight on the 4100 block of North Seventh Street. When police arrived, they found him shot twice in the buttocks, once in the chest, once in the left thigh, once in the head, and once in the face. He was listed in critical condition at Temple University Hospital. No arrests had been made Saturday. - Jonathan Lai