Inside Friends’ Central School’s Plan to Transform Athletics and Wellness
The Phoenix Rising campaign brings new turf fields and a fitness center open to every student at FCS.
Friends’ Central Head of School Beth Johnson, Class of ’77, still watches field hockey games from her office window at Friends’ Central School — on the same field where she played as a student decades ago. That view helped push her toward Phoenix Rising, the School’s campaign to rebuild its athletics and wellness facilities on the City Avenue campus.
One Field Problem Turns Into a Campus-Wide Plan
Johnson says the project started small: Friends’ Central was one of the last schools in its league without a turf field for field hockey. But fixing one field raised a bigger question.
“If there’s a game going on the turf, how do you practice with the other teams to get ready?” Johnson says.
That question sparked a much bigger conversation. Administrators decided to rebuild fields for field hockey, soccer, lacrosse, softball, and baseball all at once, plus a new track in Friends’ Central blue. The track and two turf fields open this fall; a new grass field and baseball facility follow next spring. See the full scope of the project on the School’s Athletics page.
A Fitness Center Open to Everyone, Not Just Athletes
Inside, the School is converting part of its wrestling space into a fitness center available to every student. The fitness center isn’t only for those who play on a FCS team.
“We have students here who are into activities we don’t offer, like horseback riding, figure skating, or fencing,” Johnson says. “We want this space to feel like it’s for everyone.”
Research from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services links regular physical activity in teens to reduced anxiety and depression. This was a connection Johnson says the School had in mind.
A Program Already Winning, Now Getting the Facilities to Match
The investment follows real results. Friends’ Central’s Varsity girls’ basketball team won the Pennsylvania state championship this spring, and the softball, boys’ tennis, and girls’ tennis teams all brought home league titles this year.
“People talk about the quality of our coaches — not only their expertise, but how they build character, resilience, and confidence in our students,” Johnson says.
Plan Your Visit
Friends’ Central will celebrate the first phase of Phoenix Rising with a ribbon-cutting this fall. Families can register for an upcoming Open House or campus tour to see the campus firsthand.
This Friends’ Central School story is featured in the Fall Education Guide.
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