May 2011 Testimony Regarding Parks and Rec. Department Budget

Please find the testimony of Nancy Goldenberg, the Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission and that of the Parks and Recreation Department on the Parks and Rec. 2011-2012 budget.

City Council Passes Parkland Protection Ordinance-Mayor Signs Friday, April 15

This morning, City Council passed Amended Bill No. 110002-A, concerning the protection of parkland. Click here to read the Bill.  

Tomorrow, Friday, April 15 at 11:30am, Mayor Nutter and Councilwoman Reynolds Brown will be holding a Bill signing at Belmont Plateau (Montgomery Drive & Belmont Mansion Drive). The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.  Click here for announcement.


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Parks and Recreation 2012 Budget Hearing is April 6

Wednesday, April 6, 10:00 am – noon
City Hall, Council Chambers, Room 400.  Click here for an updated flyer.
 
The Parks and Recreation Commission encourages the public to attend this hearing to learn more about the Department's budget and plans for 2012 and to demonstrate your support for strong and fully funded park and recreation programs.   

Bring your colleagues & friends.  Contact the Philadelphia Parks Alliance for more information about how to get involved.

Commission's 2011 Meeting Calendar

The Park and Recreation Commission will meet on the following dates in 2011.

March 16

May 18

July 20

Sept. 21

Nov. 16

All are at 6PM and all (except March) are at the Free Library on the Parkway.

On March 16th, the Commission will meet at 1515 Arch Street, 18th Floor.

City Council Hearing Set for Parkland Legislation

City Council’s Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs has scheduled a Public Hearing to hear testimony on Bill No. 110002 on March 9 at 1:30 pm.  Click here to view the Public Hearing Notice.  The Bill was introduced by Council Members Reynolds Brown and O’Neill on January 27, 1011.

The hearing is the next step in a process begun by the Commission on Parks and Recreation in September 2010 when it released a draft Open Lands Protection Ordinance for public review and discussion.  On January 19, 2011 the Commission voted to approve a revised Ordinance reflecting many of the comments received from the public and key stakeholders.   

3/16 Park and Recreation Commission Meeting At New Location

The regularly scheduled March 16th bi-monthly meeting of the Park and Recreation Commission will meet at new location this month only.  One Parkway (1515 Arch) in ROom 18-029 (Commission meeting room).  The meeting will begin as usual at 6PM.

January 31st Forum: Hiding in Plain Sight – Finding the City’s New Green Space

Hiding in Plain Sight – Finding the City’s New Green Space

When: January 31, 2011, 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Cities are continuously searching for new ways to make underused spaces greener to create the next generation of great urban parks. As we learned last month, Philadelphia has initiated Green2015, an action plan to turn schoolyards, recreation centers, public and private vacant land into accessible green spaces. In his newest book Urban Green: Innovative Parks for Resurgent Cities, author Peter Harnik shares his thinking about the complexities and complications of creating new parks. Borrowing the best from other cities, he discusses solutions, from reusing defunct factories, to eliminating parking lots and closing streets, to developing rooftop parks.

Read Plan Philly's interview with Peter Harnik.

A panel of local stakeholders, facilitated by PennPraxis director Harris Steinberg, will share innovative examples of how Philadelphia is already practicing what Harnik promotes and is well on its way to achieving the goals of Green2015.
Featuring:

• Harris Steinberg: Director, Penn Praxis (moderator)
• Alexander “Pete” Hoskins: Executive Director of the Laurel Hill Cemetery
• Jamie Wyper: President of the Roxborough Conservancy
• Mark Focht: Executive Director, Fairmount Park

6:00 Reception
6:30 Program
Register: newgreenspace.evenbrite.com/

This event is being brought to you by the Philadelphia Commission on Parks and Recreation, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the Academy of Natural Sciences.