Resolution 010518

..Title Authorizing the City Council Committee on Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs to hold hearings regarding the status of public parks in Philadelphia and to investigate methods to improve the parks and park system. ..Body WHEREAS, The Founder of Philadelphia, William Penn had a vision for the City which included lush parks for its citizens; and WHEREAS, In modern day Philadelphia over 10,000 acres, almost 12% of the City, is dedicated to parks; and WHEREAS, While much of the parkland serves as an oasis for the citizens of Philadelphia, there remains too many, as the Philadelphia Daily News aptly named in their recent special report, "acres of neglect"; and WHEREAS, Since 1970 there has been a 65% reduction in the Fairmount Park workforce from 637 employees to 221; and WHEREAS, The Fairmount Park Commission budget allocation in FY2000 was $13.3 million compared to $11.7 million in 1970 reflecting an increase of only $1.6 million over the past thirty years; and WHEREAS, While over 80 "Friends of Parks" volunteer groups have provided a strong support system for the City's parks, there is a clear and increasing need for an increase in staffing and the development of performance standards in order to beautify and maintain the park system; and WHEREAS, Other aspects of the City's park system should be investigated, such as its current structure where the governance is split between the Fairmount Park Commission and the Recreation Department; and WHEREAS, As the City is embarking on a voyage to clean up and transform its neighborhoods, there should be voices at the table to ensure that Philadelphia's parks are included in the process since they are so often integral to neighborhoods; and WHEREAS, The time is right for City Council in conjunction with the Administration and the Fairmount Park Commission to take a fresh look at the governance structure, funding, staffing and performance measures of the public parks in Philadelphia; now therefore RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the City Council Committee on Parks Recreation and Cultural Affairs is authorized to hold hearings regarding the status of public parks in Philadelphia and to investigate methods to improve the parks and park system. ..End