PHILADELPHIA PARKS ALLIANCE
The Philadelphia Parks Alliance advocates, builds coalitions, and educates the public in order to achieve superior systems of parks and open space for Philadelphia.
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA BUDGET NEWS:
MAYOR NUTTER CUTS PARKS & RECREATION
On July 14, 2010, Mayor Nutter submitted his revised Fiscal Year 2011-2015 Five Year Financial plan to the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Corporation Authority (PICA). This revised plan reflects $47 million in additional cuts to the Fiscal Year 2011 municipal operating budget from the Mayor's initial budget address delivered on March 4, 2010. Click here to view the full revised budget.
What does this mean for Parks & Recreation?
Not only is the $2.5 million increase that the Mayor proposed at the start of this budget cycle now off the table, the Department of Parks and Recreation's operating budget will also be cut by 3.8% (or $1.8 million) for Fiscal Year 2011.
Commissioner Michael DiBerardinis relayed to us that "These cuts will have an impact on our operations and programs. We're not sure yet of the details. The impact will be noticeable and our ability to tend to the urban tree cover will be diminished."
This very unfortunate news comes on the heels of decades of underfunding for Philadelphia's parks and recreation. The graph below demonstrates how the budget for parks has remained stagnant since 1970, while the City's combined budget has continued to grow.
The Parks Alliance will keep in touch over the coming weeks with further developments.
THANKS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT
FUNDING FOR PHILADELPHIA'S PARKS & RECREATION!
Thanks again to the hundreds of people who testified, wrote letters, called and visited City Council and the Mayor on behalf of Philadelphia's Department of Parks and Recreation!
It started when 160 individuals, representing over 70 organizations, came together to show their support on April 12th for the proposed $3.3 million increase for Philadelphia's Parks & Recreation when Michael DiBerardinis, Mark Focht and Susan Slawson testifed at City Council's Fiscal Year 2011 Operating Budget. From there our letter writing campaign, press outreach and visits to City Council pressed the important issue of increased funding for the new Department of Parks and Recreation and kept the momentum going. We could not have done this without your support - thank you for all that you do for Philadelphia's parks and recreation.
To read the Budget Testimony of the Department of Parks and Recreation click here.
Click here for statistics on how Philadelphia's parks and recreation measure up to other cities.
To read the Public Testimony of the Commission on Parks and Recreation click here.
*** Click here to see a Q& A between the Philadelphia Parks Alliance and Commissioner Michael DiBerardinis. This is the first in an ongoing series.
BECOME AN ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBER
OF THE PHILADELPHIA PARKS ALLIANCE TODAY!
We thank you for all of the work that you do and to ask that you join as an annual organizational member of the Philadelphia Parks Alliance.
Together with you and our partners, the Parks Alliance has spearheaded the campaigns that brought us to a historic and defining moment for Philadelphia’s parks and recreation. The new Department of Parks & Recreation is making great advances under the direction of Michael DiBerardinis and his staff. We have a Mayor who strives for Philadelphia’s parks to be recognized among the best in the country. A new Commission is working to establish a much needed set of guidelines to protect parkland.
You are an instrumental part of the work of the Philadelphia Parks Alliance. Now we need your financial support. Your membership will enable us to leverage exciting new opportunities to ensure that every citizen in every neighborhood can enjoy Philadelphia’s parks and recreation for generations to come. Read More
Click here to join as an organizational member.
Help us keep our records up to date! Click here to download the organizational contact form.
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSIONER DIBERARDINIS
ANNOUNCES DEPARTMENT OPERATIONAL IMPERATIVES
Using the feedback from the Department of Parks and Recreation Fall 2009 community meetings, the below "Operational Imperatives" have been developed. These are identified as essential standards to which the Department's daily activities will aspire and adhere.
1. SAFETY
All of our facilities, trail, parks and other amenities must be physically safe but also feel safe to all participants and staff.
2. CLEAN, ATTRACTIVE AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL FACILITIES
Our buildings, fields and parks, along with all of our other public assets, must be clean and welcoming. All assets must also be maintained in optimum condition for ready use by individuals and groups.
3. PROGRAMS FOR ALL
While we will make significant investments in youth development programming, it is incumbent upon us to provide enriching, relevant and accessible activities for people of all ages and interests.
4. CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
With the new department responsible for 13% of Philadelphia’s land mass, it is of the utmost importance to the city’s present and future that we take the appropriate actions to preserve and sustain the city’s green space. This holds true for the large wooded areas of the parkland as well as for neighborhood parks and playgrounds.
The Department of Parks and Recreation continues to advance the merger process. At the end of calendar year 2009, the Department submitted it's first-ever combined budget for review. Moving forward, there will be more opportunities for community input. In the meantime, you may contact the Department with feedback and ideas by emailing merger.feedback@phila.gov.
** Also note, the Commission on Parks and Recreation has established an email address. To get in touch with the Commission regarding Philadelphia's parks and recreation system, email parksandreccommission@phila.gov.
The Philadelphia Parks Alliance will continue to keep you updated as this process moves forward.
