Community Meeting about Amphibious Vehicle Tours on Lower Schuylkill

The Amphibious Vehicle Tours on the Lower Schuylkill meeting is Wednesday, December 15th at 7 PM, in the Auditorium of the Central Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia on Logan Square, 1901 Vine Street. Please RSVP

With the interest and concern about the possibility of Amphibious Vehicle Tours, commonly called “The Ducks” on the Lower Schuylkill, the Schuylkill River Park Alliance in association with the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Commission, Philadelphia Parks Alliance, Logan Square Neighborhood Association and Center City Residents Association is hosting an open informational community forum. 

 

Deputy Mayor and Managing Director Negrin will speak about the City's Request for Proposals (RFP) for an Amphibious Vehicle Tours on the Lower Schuylkill at this public meeting.

Potential operators, the respondents to the RFP, are invited to attend the meeting to listen to the community input and concerns, but are they are not obligated to making formal presentations.

Please RSVP  to learn more about the possibility of Amphibious Vehicle Tours on the Schuylkill River.

November 17th Meeting Summary

Read about and watch video from last night's November Commission meeting.  Harris Steinberg of Penn Praxis presented a summary of the Green2015 project, Commission Chair Nancy Goldenberg announced that the vote on the land protection ordinance vote was delayed until January, and updates on revenue enhancement and park communications were provided from Commissioners Pete Hoskins and Carol Rice, respectively.

Revised Land Protection Ordinance Available for Review

The revised ordinance governing the protection of outdoor park and recreation land is here.  It will be discussed and voted on at the Parks and Recreation Commission monthly meeting on Wednesday, November 17th at 6pm at the Free Library (Central Branch).

November 17, 2010 Meeting Agenda

Philadelphia Commission on Parks & Recreation

Meeting - November 17, 2010

A G E N D A

1. Welcome/Announcements
1. 2011 meeting schedule

2. Report from Commissioner

3. Green2015: An Action Plan for the First 500 Acres (Harris Steinberg, PennPraxis)

4. Committee Reports

1. Land Use Committee

                                                              i.      Open Land Protection Ordinance *

2. Revenue Enhancement Committee

                                                              i.      Update on concession study

3. Communications Committee

                                                              i.      PaRC Stars initiative

5. Public Comments

6. Adjournment

*  Vote required

Forum on Adding 500 New Acres to Philadelphia's Park & Rec. system

Green2015: An Action Plan for the First 500 Acres
Date: Tuesday, December 7th
Time: Reception at 6:00pm, presentation 6:30-8:30pm
Location: Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Ben Franklin Parkway
RSVP here: http://first500acres.eventbrite.com/

Join Mayor Nutter, Commissioner DiBerardinis, and other city officials at this special edition of the Urban Sustainability Forum to launch the city’s action plan for creating new park space across Philadelphia.

Everyone deserves access to public parks and open space. Green2015 (www.planphilly.com/green2015) is our initiative that builds off the Mayor’s sustainability plan to create 500 new acres of green space across Philadelphia. We had six public meetings across the city this summer and over 200 of you came out and offered incredibly valuable input.

The agenda for the event is still being finalized, but here is what we know:

* The Mayor will discuss how this process fits into his five-year plan for Greenworks Philadelphia;
* Commissioner DeBerardinis will announce early action projects as a result of this work, and next steps the newly-merged department is taking;
* PennPraxis will give a technical presentation of the main findings;
* A panel will respond to the presentation and your comments;

Space is limited, so please click here to register: http://first500acres.eventbrite.com/.

Special Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission 10/27

A special meeting of the Commission on Parks and Recreation will be held on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 6:00PM at the Central Library, Skyline Room, located at Logan Square, 1901 Vine Street.  The general public is invited to give testimony regarding the draft of the Open Lands Protection Ordinance at this meeting.
Click here to view the Commission’s draft ordinance.
Click here to view PPA's comments on the draft ordinance.
Click here to view the Commission’s briefing presentation.
Click here to view the Commission's ordinance timeline.

The Commission's goal is to vote on a final ordinance at its next public meeting, scheduled for Novemeber 17.  Make sure you participate in this important work by attending on October 27 or submitting your comments at any time to: parksandreccommission@phila.gov or leave a comment on this blog.

Open Land Ordinance Available for Public Review

The Parks and Recreation Commission has proposed an Open Lands Protection ordinance to provide guidance and transparency for when open lands are "conveyed" and park uses are proposed to be changed.  The Commission invites the public to review the ordinance and provide their comments either by sending us an email or submitting a comment on this blog.

Read the ordinance.
View the Commission's presentation made on September 22nd.
Read Commission's press release issued on September 23rd.

PlanPhilly story here.
"Parks Blueprint" editorial by Philadelphia Daily News (9/23/2010)
"Agency Hopes New Rules Help Protect Parkland" by Philadelphia Inquirer (9/22/2010)

Public comments will be taken by the Commission at a special hearing scheduled for Wednesday, October 27th, 6pm at the Free Library Central Branch.

The Commission will vote on the ordinance draft on Wednesday, November 17th, 6pm at the Free Library Central Branch.

September Meeting to be held on September 22nd

The September 2010 Meeting will be held on September 22nd at 6pm at the Free Library Central Branch on the Parkway in the Skyline Room at 1901 Vine Street (between 19th and 20th Streets on the Parkway).  The Library is accessible by Septa bus routes #32, 33, 38.

At this meeting, the Commission will present and review their Land Use Committee's draft open lands protection ordinance.

May Minutes and Dept. of Parks and Recreation in the News

May 2010 Minutes of the Park and Recreation Commission are now posted.  Several articles about the Department during the month of August.  One in the Weekly Press about how the Department manages natural areas and another by Plan Philly on the maintenance "level of service" at a sampling of parks and recreation centers in light of budget cuts.

Public Meeting about Stormwater Runoff into Tookany & Frankford Creeks

Staff from Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Philadelphia Water Department and Montgomery County Officials will address the stormwater issues affecting the Tookany & Frankford Creeks.

The meeting is to be held on: Tuesday, August 3, 2010 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Brickley United Methodist Church - Chelten Ave & 6th Street.

September 2010 Meeting

The September meeting for the Parks and Recreation Commission is scheduled for September 15, 2010 at 6pm at the Central Branch of the Free Library.

Send a Message to City Council about the Park and Rec. 2011 Budget

The Park and Rec Commission is sharing this message from the Philadelphia Parks Alliance

Your Action Is Needed!

Thank you to everyone who has participated in the funding campaign in support of the Department of Parks and Recreation. We've made an enormous splash. It has been noticed. But, there's critical work left to be done.

Now it's time for our 2nd round of letters and calls to City Council. Let's thank them for supporting the Mayor's original proposed budget for FY 2011 and call on them to go back to the table and find the revenue to make that budget a reality!

On top of decades of underfunding, parks and recreation have both been cut by almost 28% since January, 2009 - plus a $1 million reduction for tree maintenance and planting. Click here for more information.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO:
Please take a moment now to click here and send a letter to Council members, even if you've already written to them.
Direct your colleagues, friends, neighbors and families to www.philaparks.org where they can link in and send a letter.
If you have a bit more time, leave phone messages for members of City Council. Click here to find out who your Council representative is and find their phone number.
If you can get to City Hall, stop by Council offices and leave the same message. Click here for Council contact info.
Send personalized letters to City Council members the old fashioned way. They will read them.

Greenworks First Annual Progress Report on May 26

Join Mayor Nutter and the Office of Sustainability to celebrate the release of the first annual Greenworks Progress Report. We'll be gathering for food and festivities at 9th and Norris Streets on Wednesday, May 26, at 10:30 a.m.

GREEN 2015

The City of Philadelphia is hosting a series of community meetings to hear your thoughts about the future of green space in your neighborhood.  These meetings will help shape the City's action plan to add 500 acres of public space to meet Mayor Nutter's sustainability goals

Tuesday, May 25, 6:30 pm -       Sheet Metal Workers Union, 1301 S. Columbus Blvd., 19147
Wednesday, May 26, 6:30 pm - Associacion Puertorriquenos en Marcha, 2319 N. 7th St., 19140
Monday, June 14, 6:30 pm -      Germantown Friends School, 31 W. Coulter St., 19144
Wednesday, June 16, 6:30 pm - Bartram’s Garden, 5400 Lindbergh Blvd., 19143
Monday, June 21, 6:30 pm -       Perzel Community Center, 2990 Saint Vincent St., 19149
Tuesday, June 22, 6:30pm -        Phila. Free Library - Skyline Room, 1901 Vine Street, 19103

Download this flyer

Park and Rec Commission Meeting: Wednesday, May 19

The next public meeting of the Commission on Parks & Recreation will be held this Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at the Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Logan Square Branch, Room 108 at 1901 Vine Street (between 19th and 20th Streets on the Parkway). The library is accessible by Septa bus routes #32, 33, 38.  Review the May 19 agenda .

Commission Appoints Committees to Focus on Specific Issues Facing Parks and Recreation Department

The Commission on Parks and Recreation has established three working committees, headed by commission members and including other experienced and skilled City residents who are active in their local park and/or recreation facility. The committees are:

· Land Use

· Branding and Communications

· Revenue Enhancement

The committees will report on their progress to the full commission at regularly scheduled meetings.

Commission Seeks Input from Residents and Interested Citizens

The Commission on Parks and Recreation wants to hear from you! If you have questions, concerns and comments, submit your remarks via email: parksandreccommission@phila.gov

The Commission holds six public meetings a year, on the third Wednesday of every other month. The next public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday May 19, 2010 at The Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch, 6:00 PM and citizens are invited and encouraged to provide comments and information to the Commission.

Commission on Parks and Recreation Guides Consolidated Department

Your Commission on Parks and Recreation (PaRC) is eager to work with you to provide the very best ideas and recommendations to our elected and appointed officials concerning the protection, preservation and promotion of Philadelphia’s historical, cultural, environmental and recreational resources and programs.

The Parks and Recreation Commission was constituted in July 2009, following the passage of an amendment to the Home Rule Charter which transferred the powers and duties of the Fairmount Park Commission to a new Department of Parks and Recreation and reconstituted the Fairmount Park Commission as the Commission on Parks and Recreation (PaRC).

PaRC consists of 15 members, nine of whom are appointed by the Mayor from nominations made by City Council and six of whom serve ex officio, including the President of City Council and the Executive Director of the City Planning Commission or their designees, the Water Commissioner, the Street Commissioner, the Public Property Commissioner and the Parks and Recreation Commissioner. Each highly qualified member, appointed at the beginning of each Mayoral term, has demonstrated skills and knowledge about park and recreation matters.

PaRC’s charge is to develop and adopt written, enforceable standards related to the use of the city’s park and recreational land and facilities, make recommendations to enhance revenue opportunities, and assist in promoting parks and recreational facilities and programs. Its goal is to increase the visibility and enormous opportunities that Philadelphia has to recapture its position as the nation’s leader in the park and recreation field and sustain the legacy of William Penn’s “greene countrie town.”