City Floor Supply, along with its partners and vendors, recently donated the materials, time and labor needed to refurbish the gym floor at the Harrowgate Police Athletic League Center in North Philadelphia.

The Police Athletic League (PAL), Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez and contributions from The Building Owners’ and Managers’ Association (BOMA) worked together to reopen the once underutilized facility in 2011 as the Harrowgate PAL Center.

The center offers a wide variety of after-school activities including arts and crafts, computer training, community service, life skills, field trips, fitness, performing arts and sports leagues. With most of the resources being allocated to these endeavors, the gymnasium stood in need of a major renovation. The floor in particular needed to be replaced, as the kids were playing on dated disintegrating linoleum tiles. 

Frank Rivera, director of the Harrowgate PAL and Ted Qualli, executive director of PAL, contacted Ron Kromer, floor layer instructor for the Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Committee of Philadelphia, to ask if the organization could donate the labor needed to lay a new gym floor. Kromer in turn reached out to Frank Dove, of Dovelin Enterprises, who sent a group of sand and finish installers to work with the apprentices. Kromer also contacted City Floor Supply’s east territory sales manager, Fred Beach, to aid in the coordination and execution of the project. 

Along with Beach's time, City Floor Supply also donated flooring cleats for the install and the cleaning materials needed to maintain the new floor. The distributor also reached out to one of its largest vendors, Bona Kemi, who provided the center with court line paint, finish and sealer. 

“We were grateful for the opportunity to get involved in the gym renovation project," said Mike Glavin of City Floor Supply. "We know how hard the Philadelphia Police Department works on behalf of the kids in the city. To see the police working within the community to build mutually beneficial relationships with the local kids, parents and volunteers, is truly inspiring.”

For more information, visit cityfloorsupply.com.