53 Pa. Stat. § 12323
The department of public welfare shall have the care, management, administration, and supervision of all charitable, correctional, and reformatory institutions, and agencies (including any house of correction, but not including hospitals), the control or government of which is entrusted to such city: Provided, That no part of this article shall interfere with the functions of any board of directors of city trusts, now existing, created by any acts of Assembly of this Commonwealth.
It shall also have power to create, organize, manage, and supervise the various playgrounds, recreation centers, municipal floating-baths, bathing-grounds, and recreation piers, which may be established at the present time or from time to time authorized by council or given by private individuals or associations and accepted by such city, and to plan and recommend, by regular reports to the mayor, and, after appropriate action by ordinance, to create and develop, an adequate and complete system of playgrounds and recreation centers and related activities. It shall also care for, conduct, manage, and supervise such public bath-houses and related activities as may form constituent parts of, or be used in connection with, or be used as auxiliaries to, a recreation center.
It shall also have jurisdiction over such other matters affecting the public welfare as may be provided for by ordinance.
53 P.S. § 12323