Committee Hearing, October 31, 2001

COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, 10/31/01 11:05 a.m. RES. NO. 010518 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. PRESENT: Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, Chair Councilman Darrell L. Clarke Councilwoman Joan Krajewski Councilman James F. Kenney Councilman Richard T. Mariano Councilman Brian J. O'Neill Councilman Michael A. Nutter Councilman Frank Rizzo Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco - - - VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 561-2220 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 WITNESSES FAIRMOUNT PARK COMMISSION William E. Mifflin, Executive Director .......... Commissioner F. Eugene Dixon .................... 49 Commissioner Ernest D. Ballard .................. 52 Commissioner Isadore Schraeger .................. 56 Deborah Carr, Environmental Education Director .. 109 DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION Victor Richard, Commissioner .................... PARK ADVOCATES Beth Ounsworth, Friends of Philadelphia Parks .... 68 Michael Groman, Philadelphia Green .............. 78 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society John Binswanger, President ...................... 84 Fairmount Park Conservancy Patrick Starr, Director ......................... 88 Pennsylvania Environmental Council ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT Marvin Brown, Huey School ....................... 105 FRIENDS GROUPS Linde Lauff, Pennypack Park ..................... 144 Darlene Messina, President ...................... 148 Friends of the Manayunk Canal Fred Maurer, Tacony Creek Park .................. 153 George Rideout, Elmwood Park .................... 166 Len Pannirello, Friends of Elmwood Park ......... 168 OUT-OF-TOWN EXPERTS Karen Miller, National Recreation and Park Assoc. 173 Douglas Wendell, PA Recreation and Park Society 180 3 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 (Index Page, cont'd.) WITNESS ACTIVE PARK USERS/ADVOCATES Gerry Walker, Flying Horse ...................... 192 Brenda Cooper-Cutts, Flying Horse ............... 196 Andrew Hohnes ................................... 198 Mike Cherubini, Del. Valley Mountain Bike Patrol 203 Brad Thompson ................................... 207 David Hardy, Coach, FP Fields ................... 210 Tom Zimartis, Local 222 ......................... 212 4 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518

Good morning, Philadelphia. Good morning, young people. The City Council Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs is now in a public hearing to hear testimony on Resolution 010518. The members of this committee that are currently with us this morning are Councilman Frank Rizzo, Councilwoman Marian Tasco, and Councilman Rick Mariano. Due to join us in the next hour or so will be Councilwoman Krajewski, Councilman Kenney, and Councilman O'Neill. And also with us is Councilman Michael Nutter, who joined with Councilman Darrell Clarke and I in sponsoring this bill. We will please ask the clerk to now read the title the resolution.

Resolution No. 010518, a resolution 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 improved parks and the park system.

Let me thank everyone for coming today. For me, after 20 months of working with many of you, I am delighted to see 5 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 such a rich, diverse cross-section of Philadelphia, where the common thread for us is that we care about parks. The record should reflect that this is not the first time is City Council has taken a strong interest in our parks. In doing research, I learned and came across a little history on Councilman Thomas Mehan. Councilman Mehan was elected to City Council in 1883 and was perhaps the greatest advocate the parks of Philadelphia had ever seen on City Council. Councilman Mehan laid out an ambitious plan to have the City buy up green space for public parks: Bartram' Garden, Stenton Park, and Vernon Park are just a few of some of the parks that Councilman Mehan helped create. As a result of his hard work, we, Philadelphia, has one of the largest and most diverse park systems in the country. The time has come for City government take a fresh new look at the funding levels of our park system. Funding levels, as many of us know, have been stagnant and flat for the last decade. The reasons for that have much to do with the precarious position the City's finances have been in. However, 6 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 if we are to live up to William Penn's vision of a green country town and Councilman Mehan's dream of a great park for every neighborhood, I believe we cannot afford to leave things the way they are, but instead, take on the challenge to improve our park system by developing meaningful standards and make our vision for our park system more than an empty dream. In Chicago, over $37,000 is spent per acre on their parks; in Philadelphia, that figure is $1,890. Let me repeat. In Chicago, over $37,000 is spent per acre on their parks; in Philadelphia, that figure is $1,890. Now, it is possible that Chicago has inefficiencies in their budget; however, their spending is times what we spend. 17 Today is our chance to build a case and 18 change the flat budget allocation our park system 19 has seen over the last ten years and move and 20 encourage the bottom line to see an increase in the budget for our parks. It has been reported that the Budget Office is asking all departments to trim their budgets due to the current financial condition of the City. And for sure, the City has to be prudent; 7 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 we cannot go back to being a city on the brink. However, our parks are an area where I say we cannot cut any further. Our parks needs investments, not cuts now. Volunteer coordinators, park rangers, maintenance of the park and park facilities, and a strategic plan that ties parks into the City's overall tourism and economic development picture are areas that I believe warrant serious consideration as we moved forward. Today, however, it's important that we put on the record what your needs and interests are. The most important viewpoints are those of you, active and avid users of the parks on a daily basis. Trust that I will continue to be your partner and to be a diligent advocate for increased funding for the parks. But, again, my colleagues here need to hear from you. We need to know what you want. On behalf of this committee and on behalf of Councilmembers Nutter and Clarke who again cosponsored this resolution with me, I say we look forward to hearing your comments on some of the City's finest cultural treasures, our parks. Thank you very, very much again for your attendance, and we look forward to your 8 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 participation. With that, we will now begin to call up those scheduled to testify. And we know that interest is high, but we need you to be mindful of the time constraints that we're operating under, and we worked hard to accommodate a range of individuals who care about parks.

And to underscore a comment or an instruction that many of you may have gotten from David Forde on my staff, please do all you can to put your enthusiasm and advocacy in two to three typed minutes. Hello? Okay. With that, please let me call up department heads: Commissioner Victor Richard, Recreation Commissioner; and Bill Mifflin, Fairmount Park Commissioner, and any staff you care to bring up with. )

We would ask all of our testifiers to please state your full name, and if you have any written testimony, which we welcome you to share that with David, and he will distribute it. If you do you not have written testimony, it's okay. Speak from the heart and tell us what you believe needs to happen with our park 9 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 system. Gentlemen, proceed. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Good morning, Chairwoman, my name is William E. Mifflin, I'm the Executive Director of the Fairmount Park Commission; and I won't steel his thunder, but seated immediately to my left is Victor Richard, the Commissioner of the Philadelphia Department of Recreation. And with your indulgence, I would ask Mr. Richard and fellow Fairmount Park Commissioners and our respective senior staff to join us in the chairs behind us.

Very well. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Thank you. (Staff members come forward.)

We want to acknowledge and salute the Fairmount Park Commissioners who are here, so if you would please tell us those in attendance today. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Thank you very much, I'd be honored to. Starting from my immediate right is the President of the Fairmount Park Mr. F. Eugene Dixon; Next is Commissioner Ernesta D. Ballard; 10 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 Next to her is Deputy Fairmount Park Director Stephanie Craighead; Next to her is Mr. James Donaghy, who's the Director of Operations, Landscape Management; Next to him is Commissioner Joseph R. Sernick; Next to Commissioner Sernick is Commissioner John Binswanger; Next is Fairmount Park Commissioner Robert P. Levy; Next to Mr. Levy is Fairmount Park Chief of Staff Barry A. Bessler; Next to Mr. Bessler; next to Mr. Bessler is the Program Administrator for the Natural Lands Restoration Environmental Education Project, Mr. Mark Focht; Next to Mr. Focht is the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Officer and Assistant Development Director Teresa Stuhlman; Next to Miss Stuhlman is Mr. Carl Gallatig, the Human Resource Director for Fairmount Park Commission; Next is Mr. Michael DeSanto, who is the Facilities Manager for the Fairmount Park 11 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 Commission; And lastly on that side is Mr. Dennis Waller, who's Deputy Director of the Fairmount Park Commission.

Let me welcome all of you to these proceedings. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Thank you. I'd also like acknowledge Commissioner Robert N.C. Nicks III, who is on my far left; Deputy Director Paul Nice of the Fairmount Park Commission; And Leslie from the Fairmount Park Commission, I believe; Mr. James -- Fairmount Park Commission Mr. James Blume. And I know en route is Commissioner Mr. Isadore Schraeger (ph.), who's the Vice President of the Fairmount Park Commission; we expect him shortly.

Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Mr. Richard. COMMISSIONER RICHARD Hi, good morning, thanks. 12 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 I have my executive staff here. To my immediate left is Deputy Commissioner Carlton Williams; Deputy Commissioner William Carapucci; and Deputy Commissioner Mary Platt Coles. Thank you.

You're welcome. Proceed. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: That probably took up most of my time for testimony, and I agree with you that that brevity will be the key here this morning. I'm delighted to be here this morning representing the staff of the Fairmount Park Commission, and I know that you will be hearing from a few Fairmount Park Commissioners this morning, and you're also going to hear very impassioned and emotional testimony from our friends and supporters of Fairmount Park and also from those who may or may not agree with all of the decisions of the Fairmount Park Commission. I think, Councilwoman, as you eloquently expressed in your opening remarks, it is a vast system and a system that has been incorporated since the mid-1800s. And when you realize the benefit and 13 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 the origin of Fairmount Park at that time, which primarily was to protect the quality of the water as the City moved in a westerly direction along the banks of the Schuylkill, in many respects, our mission remains the same today; and that is one of preservation and enhancement of this wonderful asset known as Fairmount Park. And in fact, the quality of the water, specifically the Schuylkill River and the Delaware River, the two bodies of water that provide drinking water for the City of Philadelphia, is still a major function of the Fairmount Park Commission in maintaining the quality of that water. We have grown since the 1850s to now we are one in every 10 acres, or 1/10th of the total land mass in the City of Philadelphia is dedicated to Fairmount Park. So no, we're not the largest urban park system in the country or in the world, but we are certainly one of the largest, and that percentage of 10 percent is a very significant number for this city and one of which we can be very proud. In addition to the protection of water, we have many other interests and concerns for our citizens of Philadelphia, and we are varied in our 14 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 responsibilities. They run the gamut -- from historic preservation with now that we realize through GIS that we have over 460 facilities in Fairmount Park, many of them historically certified and of utmost importance to keep open to the public in a safe and attractive condition. We also provide opportunities for environmental education. We think one of the main components of Fairmount Park and clearly working with the School District of Philadelphia and targeting our youth will be the future of the Fairmount Park Commission, and we hold that responsibility very dear to our hearts. We do provide recreational opportunities as well in concert with the Department of Recreation and with the School District of Philadelphia. And in fact, the charter of the City of Philadelphia mandates that the Department of Recreation be responsible for all recreational programming in the City of Philadelphia, including that which is provided in the Fairmount Park Commission. We work very closely specifically with the Department of Recreation. And when you think of the makeup of the 15 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 Fairmount Park Commission, particularly the ex officio members, it is important to realize that the Water Commissioner, the Chief Surveyor of the City of Philadelphia, the Recreational Commissioner and the Public Property Commissioner are key members of the Fairmount Park Commission. So the Park Commission is not an island in and of itself but works very closely with a variety of agencies within the City government. I think the future of the Fairmount Park Commission is exciting, I think this city is a very -- is on the brink of excitement, I think our opportunities to provide recreational enhancements, to provide environmental education opportunities, to maintain the integrity of the park rests on the shoulders of this city, this Council, the Commissioners of Fairmount Park, and many of the people that are in this room this morning.

And I'm very confident about our future I suspect I'll be answering a lot of questions later today, so I'm going to conclude my remarks at this time.

Thank you, Commissioner. 16 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Thank you.

Let us hasten to welcome Commissioner Isadore Schraeger to these hearings. Thank you very much. Commissioner Richard, speak if you will to the Department of Recreation, then we'll open it up to questions. COMMISSIONER RICHARD I agree. Congratulations. I want to first of all compliment your leadership along with the rest of the committee members and thank you for calling this forum. In brief, in a nutshell, the parks and recreation system in any major city is the personality and the characteristic of this town. The bottom line is to provide a service to the customers without any backlog. Not looking back, and not making any excuses. I know some of the hots issues is where the system is today, where it was yesterday, and what's been going on in the last ten years relative to the overlap. Should we do things different? Yes. Does it make sense to do things different? If you haven't done anything different in the last five years and you continue to do them the same way in 17 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 the next five years, don't expect anything to change. I applaud you all for taking the challenge and to make the right and tough decisions in order to continue to provide the services that are due to this city Thank you.

You're welcome. Your comments with regards to doing things differently is one of the reasons why we're here today. And in doing the homework and preparation, of course, one fact I found is that discussions happened a few years ago with regards to the Fairmount Park Commission and the Recreation Department looking carefully at how and what opportunities exist to combine some of the functions. Please speak to that, your opinion about that. We have to work smarter and leaner during these financial times. So given that reality in our face, please share with us where you are with respect to that, that prospect. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Thank you. I agree with Commissioner Richards' comments about change, 18 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 and this is a subject of which we have spent just very recently a detailed -- in a detailed meeting with our respective senior staffs, discussing the potential, the benefits, and the economies of looking at both agencies and leveraging their strengths. And it's considered that the Fairmount Park Commission's strength is in open space land preservation and perhaps historic preservation. Particularly as it relates to the Department of Recreation, we tend to provide more recreational opportunities in passive mode. The Department of Recreation's strength -- and of course Commissioner Richard speaks to this -- is more in the active recreation opportunities. We think that there are some specific examples of facilities that are presently managed by the Park Commission which perhaps could be managed more effectively by the Department of Recreation; and on the other side when we've demonstrated this in some transfers previously with Fairmount Park assuming responsibilities for those areas that are more park-like and would provide passive recreational opportunities. 19 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 I think that there are two major things to consider in this. Number one, there are presently no redundancies. The fact of the matter is that both staffs are doing what I think could possibly be asked of them, and I think that our resources speak for themselves. And we are providing the best quality experience for our users. Whether you go to a Fairmount Park facility or a Department of Recreation facility. So number one, there are no 11 redundancies. Number two, as we look at both systems -- and these are huge systems. I mean, this is, again, a large, vast park system, and the Department of Recreation has hundreds of facilities. So these are not small agencies. We are looking for economies of scale. We are not looking for change just for change itself. If there's confusion as to who is responsible, then it's incumbent for a particular facility, then it's incumbent upon that agency to make it known that they are responsible, and there are a number of ways in which we can do that. We need a strategic plan exercised. If there is a Fairmount Park facility within blocks of a Department of Recreation facility, then, quite 20 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 frankly, we need to look at that and decide if we need both of them, do we need one of them, and if we do, who should be responsible for that. And I think that's a process that's been started and I think it's a process, I know, that Commissioner Richard shares with me that will be ongoing.

Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Richard, do your care to reply to this notion on how we can work smarter and leaner? COMMISSIONER RICHARD Great, thank you. From my knowledge, in a recent meeting with Mr. Mifflin's executive team and mine as well, I believe it was 1996 on the documents that were presented to me that the last time a real serious look and a hard copy, hard working document was in place. Now, I'm not sure of all details of why it didn't go all the way through or stop, but in my professional evaluation, and not an opinion, those things do need to take place. Some transfers of properties definitely need to take place. Mr. Mifflin's area of responsibility and vice versa, mine, can do a much better job on a program inside 21 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 and also on the maintenance side of some of the facilities that do crisscross. While I have the floor, I want to continue to piggyback on what Bill was talking about relative to the number of facilities and on us being able to produce the quality of product that the citizenships here so rightly deserve. If I may, I believe everyone in this room 10 knows that the population density of this city has changed tremendously over the last 20 years. Now, I have been a resident here for the last 17 or 18 months, and my background is in business in either red or in the black: Either we make a dollar or we lose it, and it's based on the quality of product and the service that we produce. The bottom line is that we have too many facilities in the City of Philadelphia and we need to stand up and face that fact. The other thing we need to realize is that part of the responsibility that it takes to create that quality product is the tax base that this city once had or the revenue base that this city once had, and from my short tenure here, I don't see that coming back. For us to have facilities that are 30 22 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 and 40 facilities in some certain parts of this city that's within the proximity of one mile or less, it's totally impractical to manage. It's totally impractical for you all as Councilpeople that are responsible to help appropriate the funds for us to provide that quality. So, yes, we can do a better job, but there's some tough business decisions that need to be made in order for us to right-size things and to run it in a more efficient manner. The last question you asked me, am I committed to that? Yes. If you'd like to know, have I begun that process? Yes. I do have in my possession a working analysis on proximities, the number of pools, and also in my possession is an analysis of not just Philadelphia but a study of the top or cities in the country and what they 19 have done, where we are versus where they are, and 20 what we can do better to create that quality 21 product. 22 Thank you.

Thank you. This ia an open question to the Commissioners, and it's purely optional. There is 23 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 much talk and conversation and an interest in a strategic plan. Might anyone care to respond to the value of that or not, including those currently at the mike, anyone? Please speak to this: When was the last time a strategic plan was done for either department? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Well, the Fairmount Park Commission completed a master plan more than 11 years ago, in the early 1980s. It was a very 12 comprehensive master plan at that particular time. 13 Since that date, we have provided updates, 14 and as recently as 1996, provided a strategic action 15 plan, which I have a copy of here today, and we'd be 16 happy to leave that or send that to City Council as 17 well. 18 There is, I think, little doubt in my mind 19 that a strategic plan or a master plan -- I'm not 20 sure that I want to get caught up in the semantics here.

Sure. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: But a plan that would look to identifying the value of the parks. We talk emotionally and passionately about parks here this 24 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 morning, but I know that they are and can be a major economic generator for this city if parks are maintained properly through a plan that would identify the role the parks have in the future of tour -- for the City in tourism and in economic development. When we have major regattas on the banks of the Schuylkill or an international event like Dragon Boat Championships, I'm told that they spin off millions of dollars in revenues to the City in business, whether it be entertainment or hotels or restaurants; and yet the park will host them, but the park derives no direct benefit from those events. So I think we need to look at ways in which the park can position itself in a plan to take advantage of and to be a part of the economic and tourism growth of this city. The second thing that we've mentioned here this morning is a strategic look at what both departments are doing to ensure that things are not falling through the cracks. And I think again the School District of Philadelphia will have to be a major partner in that plan. When you consider all of the gymnasiums in the City of Philadelphia and 25 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 all of the school auditoriums and all of the structures that are here in the city, it makes little sense to me to build new buildings when we should be maintaining those structures which presently exist and ensuring that the major agencies are working collectively and cooperatively in providing that. We need to seek ways in which we can improve upon that. And lastly I think that need to again look at the support that the Park Commission receives locally, at the State level, and at the federal level. We have made significant improvements in funding from outside City government, and it's my vision that we'll need to do even more. Recently, the Park Commission established a Fairmount Park Conservancy, a not-for-profit fund-raising organization, and you'll hear from the chair of that organization later this morning. But we need to begin to identify funding sources outside of the local government.

I will change my line of questioning and then open it up to my colleagues. Again, along same line of innovative ways 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 we need to look at and consider with regards to the maintenance of our parks: Across the country park proponents are alert to this economic reality on how to fund park construction and ongoing maintenance. As never before, parks must pay their own way. In major cities like San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, and Seattle, parks have been asked to design for affordable upkeep and to create revenue opportunities for revenue flow. Creating retail opportunities is an innovative strategy to keep parks running. Please speak on your thoughts on inviting restaurants and the like into our parks, and again gave backdrop of history and the philosophy upon which Philadelphia's Fairmount Park was created. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Well, I think that you have hit upon something that is very important to the park, and one of our favorite words, and yours as well, is "partnerships." I hope that as long as we are together is as an entity of the Council of Philadelphia that we would not consider wholesale sale of Fairmount Park land, because I don't believe that would be in the interest of anyone. I do, however, believe it to be incumbent upon us to seek 27 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 ways in which we can better utilize park land in strategic development; and if in fact that includes retail opportunities, then I think that should be of prime consideration. We are negotiating presently with a major retailer to open a year-round restaurant in the Fairmount Water Works, which recently received -- completed over $20 million of historic preservation improvements, along with an interpretive center staffed by the Philadelphia Water Department. This could be a 300-seat restaurant for year-round dining, or seasonal dining of 300, 200 year-round. We have other opportunities as well. We have just recently concluded an agreement with a park-wide concessionaire who can provide merchandising and food opportunities and catering through catering opportunities in our major structures in Fairmount Park such as Memorial Hall, the Horticultural Center and Lloyd Hall. These are potential revenue sources for the City of Philadelphia. Investment in our golf courses. Golfing is a major recreational activity, it is certainly on the upswing, and we are maximizing the six courses 28 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 that we have today, and recently -- as recently as six years ago, there were only five active Fairmount Park courses. But with the agreement with a long-term concessionaire, we see now six courses with additional driving ranges. And there are opportunities in park land to improve upon existing driving ranges. So we've looked at -- that's a small issue, but we've looked at that. We've looked at that with the eye of maintaining the integrity of the park because when you think of our River drives and our Hunting Parks and our FDR Parks, it's a park, and amenities should be available in the park. And I think in the case of an FDR Park, if we could reopen the boathouse and have paddle boats on the water, as we once did previously, and to have a food concessionaire in FDR Park for citizens who come to the park and could take advantage of those retail opportunities, I think it would make a great deal of sense.

Now, you say "potential revenue sources." What becomes the Achilles heel or lynch pin into those not becoming a reality? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Well, I think there are 29 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 a couple of issues. It's difficult to operate a retail space in an historic structure. It's not the cheapest fit-out, if you will. It's one thing to take new construction and do it; it's another thing to work within the confines of an historic structure. One. Number 2, it's working within the confines of the City government. Again, we are not a private entity, we are a public entity and, you know, that's a good thing. I mean, these properties were built for citizens to use, not for individuals, and it's for their own private or personal use. So it is a -- it's not so much a fine line as it is the approach which the Park Commission must take to balance public accessibility with the benefits of revenue generation.

Sure. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: And just very quickly there are two projects which, I think, demonstrate this that the Park Commission is presently taking under advisement. One is the move of the Arthur Ashe Tennis Center in Manayunk. They're presently on Main Street in Manayunk, and if you know the Arthur Ashe Tennis Center, it's a not-for-profit 30 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 facility which provides tennis opportunities for youth. We have offered them seven and a half acres of Fairmount Park property at the Gustine Recreation Center where they could move their operation, expand their operation, double their operation, double the number of youth that they are serving in tennis, while rebuilding a Fairmount Park recreation center which was built in the 1950s and which would cost at least a million dollars of City taxpayer money to restore. So this is a beautiful public-private ventureship in which, in our opinion, everyone benefits. And we are taking careful attention to ensure that the public will have access to those tennis courts over and above those youth involved in Arthur Ashe tennis. The second is a property in Wistar Woods in which LaSalle University has interest, and that also, I think, ironically, is about seven and a half acres of park land which has not been maintained as well as we at the Park Commission would like, but it is immediately adjacent to LaSalle University's campus. They've provided a conceptual plan of lighting, fencing, paths, jogging paths, and 31 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 ultimately tennis courts, with the proviso that they would be directly responsible to maintain those seven and a half acres. And, again, those seven and a half acres would be available not just to students of LaSalle University but to the community in general, the West Oak Lane and Olney communities. So those are the types of things that we have been involved in, and I think the potential is, quite frankly, unlimited, but again, with the mission that we are here to protect the Fairmount Park Commission.

So you've mentioned two nonprofit and a member of the higher education community, both of whom have stepped up to the plate to be partners. And with the understanding that you cannot hold anyone or anything responsible for something you have (indiscernible) to their attention, has there been any discussion, dialogue, exploration of inviting the business community to be a part of the initiatives and the future of Philadelphia parks? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Well, again, we have a number of concession agreements, some of which are not real popular with the general public. Let me 32 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 give you an example. We're preparing an RFP for parking at the Philadelphia Museum of Art that will be a major generating source. Parking -- although we have been charging for parking at the museum for the last few years, we're going to be a bit more aggressive about it. In part, it's to control the parking so that we have some structure to it, but it's also partly due to recognizing the potential for revenue, for revenue enhancement to the City. Again, our concession agreements with operators at the Burholme Driving Range, we're considering a change at the driving range at 33rd and Oxford. We're, you know, really looking at the park and opportunities to provide business opportunities. We're also looking for folks for a corporate -- to be good partners in supporting day camps and other opportunities. We've moved into rowing on the Schuylkill, providing rowing opportunities for inner-city youth. We've operated this camp for four years, and not one student -- and we're talking hundreds -- has paid one dime to attend the camps; they've been fully supported by 33 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 the corporate community. If you go on East River Drive today, you'll see the beginnings of construction of a boathouse, and this will be the St. Joseph's University and St. Joe's Prep boathouse. This is the first boathouse that's been constructed since the turn of the century. As part of the privilege for construction of a boathouse in Fairmount Park, those two educational institutions will be responsible for rowing -- inner-city youth rowing opportunities, much like the Arthur Ashe opportunity, to citizens and youth of this city. So again I apologize; I keep coming back to nonprofits and educational institutions, which tend to make good partners, or are good partners, but I think there are business opportunities as well.

As well. Let me rest my questioning at this juncture and allow my colleagues to participate. Councilman Michael Nutter, Councilman Frank Rizzo, in that order, have questions. And please allow me to welcome to the chambers Councilman O'Neill. 34 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 Councilman Nutter?

Thank you, Madam Chair, thank you. Good morning Mr. Mifflin, and good morning, Commissioner Richard. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Good morning.

As the Chair does, I have certainly a bunch of questions; I assume we will have a few rounds and you'll let me know when I've gone way beyond any reasonable amount of time and I'll be prepared to come back. I also want to thank the Fairmount Park Commissioners and the staff of Fairmount Park and the Recreation Department for being here this morning as well. It's a very significant hearing at a critical time. Director Mifflin, let me go back to the beginning and just ask you from your perspective, what is the mission of the Fairmount Park Commission? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yes, it's the protection and the preservation of the 9,000 acres of the Fairmount Park Commission. It's the stewards -- we are the stewards of the landscape, 35 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 and providing recreational and other opportunities for citizens for the use of that park system. So it's preservation, protection and enhancement.

Protection, preservation, and enhancement, okay. And you made reference earlier in responding to a question from the Chair that a strategic plan had been done sometime in the 1996 time period; is that correct? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yes.

Okay. Can you tell me what elements of that particular plan have been implemented to date? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yeah. The plan -- and I have it here, I started to reach for it -- suggests an emphasis in the recreational areas on youth and children, and I think by evidence of our rowing camp and other expansion of our day camps and other interests, special-interest areas like equestrian, in fact, we have accomplished that. We have accomplished, in partnership with a nonprofit organization known as the "Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust Incorporated," of 36 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 which you are a member, greater attention on our historic facilities, lessening the burden of the Fairmount Park Commission in maintaining those facilities by way of offering organizations long-term lease agreements. I could -- if you give me a moment to get to the plan, I can perhaps go through that as well, and I know you'll have additional questions for me. But those tend to be two areas. And I guess lastly, with a grant from the William Penn Foundation in late 1996, we were able to dedicate greater attention to the natural areas of Fairmount Park as well as environmental education. Those are probably some of the highlights that we've accomplished since 1996 as it relates to that strategic plan.

Okay. Would you consider that particular plan to be fairly comprehensive and far-reaching in terms of its elements and what your evaluation of -- of the number of components of that plan, how many do you think you've been able to accomplish at this point? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: I don't believe it to 37 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 be a "far-reaching" plan, to use your term. I think it was a -- more of a strategic action plan, and I'll make that differentiation as it relates to the master plan of 1983. This plan looked at existing conditions and programs and made recommendations or suggestions in which the Park Commission should focus. It did recommend that we continue the dialogue as an example of the Department of Recreation to look at ways in wich we can ensure that we're providing adequate recreational services.

Okay, would that be from -- on of the plan, there are two items that I'd like to mention to you and get your reaction to them. This is a section entitled "Squeeze Every Nickel." It says, "Increasing the number of available dollars and getting the most from each of those dollars has long been a goal of the Fairmount Park Commission." And then in the next paragraph, it says, "Opportunities to share expenses reduce the overlap of responsibilities and maximize economies of scale must be continually sought in order to increase the 38 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 operating efficiency in City government." Can you tell me what's been done in that area? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: I'm sorry, repeat the page number again, Councilman.

That would be . This is a document dated October 1995, "Strategic Plan for the Fairmount Park Commission." DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Well, I think that the Park Commission -- pardon me -- has accomplished a great deal in this area. Many of the things that I have previously mentioned as far as business opportunities, in fact, have either been accomplished or are under consideration. The -- since this document, we did implement a park-wide concession agreement, which generates revenue to the City of Philadelphia.

What's the estimated amount of that? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: It's a long -- it's a ten-year period of time -- I'm sorry, it's even longer than ten years. There's an annual maximum guarantee, and I need Paul Nice to help me with that number. 39 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 (Paul Nice comes forward.) DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: It's an annual minimum guarantee of $60,000, but that's an annual minimum guarantee which we believe will be exceeded.

Let's talk a little bit about the budget. I understand that this is not a budget hearing, but in this particular regard, what's your perspective on the funding of the park in contrast over the past five years since this document was released, in contrast to either recreation or libraries? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Well, I cannot speak directly about the library or the Department of Recreation's budget, but Fairmount Park's budget has remained fairly level.

Okay, and that's at about 12, $13 million a year over that time period? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: We were averaging about 12 million a year. And then, as you clearly recall, hearings on the need to invest in our street tree population led to a direct $1 million addition to the budget. So it's -- since 19 -- FY '98, it's been about 13, 13.5.

Okay. And it's stayed 40 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 at that level pretty much since that time? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: It's been pretty level.

Okay, let's move from that for a second;I can come back to that particular area Let's talk about this provision of the City Charter, Section 5-600, which talks about a coordinated recreation plan. First, either for yourself or for Commissioner Richard, can you provide to the Chair and members of the committee a copy of the coordinated recreation program for the City of Philadelphia? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: I don't believe there is a plan per se. It is a working relationship that we have with the Department of Recreation.

Okay. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: I mean, if I understood your question, you're actually looking for a document?

Well, I guess in reading that particular section, which is 5-600, it talks about the functions -- it's actually under the Department of Recreation -- shall have the power and duty and its duties shall be to perform the 41 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 following functions. A. Coordinate a recreation program. It shall from time to time formulate a comprehensive and coordinated program of cultural and recreational activities to be instituted and conducted in all City recreational facilities, including those managed and operated by the Fairmount Park Commission. That would lead me, under the circumstances, to believe that there would actually be a document, that there would be a series of meetings and an agreement between and amongst those parties that says, This is what we're going to do. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Mm-hmm.

That would basically be my simple reading of the charter, and I guess I'd like to understand from both of you how you read and what the result has been. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yeah. A couple of quick responses to that. Here today is Commissioner Robert Levy from the Fairmount Park Commission. He is the Chair of the Recreational Coordinating Committee for the City of Philadelphia. I mentioned in my earlier testimony that the Recreation Commissioner is, by 42 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 virtue of his title, is a member of the Fairmount Park Commission.

Right, I know. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Mr. Levy, Mr. Richard, as well as myself at a minimum meet monthly in session and discuss all matters of the Fairmount Park Commission. As an aside, we are both of members of the Philadelphia Sports Congress, which is another organization which Mr. Levy chairs, which meets regularly. There we tend to discuss more regional recreational events and activities admittedly than we would neighborhood initiatives, but it gives us an opportunity to talk about the programs of the park and seek ways again with the business community to be supportive. So it's an ongoing dialogue and a program that we have, and we enjoy a good working relationship. I cannot, you know, give you a document other than my strategic plan, Commissioner Richard's strategic plan, and in my experience that we're not duplicitive [sic] and my knowledge that we are working cooperatively. In my experience, we're 43 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 working cooperatively.

Commissioner? COMMISSIONER RICHARD the comprehensive plan that you're asking for, Mr. Councilman, to my knowledge, does not exist on paper. It does exist within my immediate operating department. But if you want to know my professional evaluation, yeah, we do need to take it to another level.

Well, Commissioner, I do appreciate that, and I'm quite surety founding fathers at least of the charter would appreciate your view since, I'm assuming, that's the reason they put it there. I mean, I'm glad to hear that there are coordinated meetings from time to time. I guess what I'm trying to figure out is, without an actual plan -- and again, the charter is very clear, that not only is it developed by recreation, it is binding on the Fairmount Park Commission for the facilities that they operate. From a recreation standpoint, how do you translate that into policy and direction and programming if the people who are responsible for its implementation cannot see it and 44 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 it's not something that they can sit around and read and have a discussion about it? How often do the staffs of the respective entities have a discussion about recreation activities since the plan that's supposedly developed by Recreation is binding on the Fairmount Park Commission, directly related to recreation activities? COMMISSIONER RICHARD I agree with what you're saying. To my limited knowledge and what we've accomplished in the time that I've been here and as of recently in the last maybe 30 or 40 days, our staff has come together as a whole. That's something that needs to continue. My concern is, we can come back together and redevelop the old plan and tweak what was presented to me what was done back in '96, but my concern is having the ability and the autonomy to implement and move it. So I'm in total agreement with everything that you're saying, but the time now is to attain the results.

Commissioner, let me 45 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 ask you about a previous statement that you made. You talked about the number of facilities we have either under Recreation or Fairmount Park jurisdiction, and you and I have had a number of conversation; we share many of the same views about trying to run this business, providing service to customers, and used the phrase which is certainly a business term about right-sizing this operation. I took down what you said and I was left with the impression that there may be a perspective that we actually have either too many facilities for the number of people in the City of Philadelphia or that they are located in such a way that they're not necessarily efficient, given the number of facilities that we have. Could you expound on that particular view? Are you saying at this time that we need to evaluate or reevaluate the number of facilities that we have which may potentially result in the closure of any of the facilities that we presently operate? COMMISSIONER RICHARD Mr. Councilman, you are exactly correct in both of the statements that you made relative to proximity and number. I did not make the statement, and you 46 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 didn't either, about closing facilities, but that's something that we do need to take a look at. We need to make the tough decisions and realize that the manpower and the money that it's going to take that the citizens are crying for the level of services and the quality of the building in order to maintain, we need to say that we don't have the money, we don't see the money starting tomorrow, and this is the way that we need to rectify it exactly. Do we have too many facilities in Philadelphia in this system based on today's population, today's cost of operation to maintain 'em the way they need to be maintained? Yes, we do.

Okay. Director Mifflin, let me ask this question; it's a funding question but of a different sort. The Park Commission has a variety of funds in trust; is that correct? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yes.

And what's the total amount of funds in trust that the Park Commission presently has? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Approximately 5 million. 47 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518

million. Is that excluding any of the dollars from the William Penn grant? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yes, that does not include the William Penn grant.

Okay, and what does the park do with that money? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: We, following the guidelines of the instrument which provided the funds to us either through a will or a donation or a bequest, expend generally the income of those trust funds on an annual basis to provide largely capital improvements.

How much would that be? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: On an annual -- well, before I give you my guess, I'll ask Paul. (Commissioner Mifflin confers with colleague.) DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yeah, thanks. It's about 2 to $300,000 annually.

Of the $5 million, how much in restricted funds and how much is in unrestricted? 48 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: About 50 percent.

So two and a half in are in restricted and two and a half are in unrestricted; is that what you're saying? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yes.

Okay. Gentlemen, I will return to you. I've received the nicest hook that I've ever received in my ten years here, and I will get back to you. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councilman Nutter. We will have another round with these commissioners. Let me welcome to our chambers my colleague who also served as cosponsor of this resolution and is a member of the Fairmount Park, Commission Councilman Clarke. We are going to push the pause buttons for the commissioners and bring you back on the back end because we have a number of individuals who have an interest, and we do want to get you on the record, and then we will return to Commissioner Richard and Commissioner Mifflin. So if we could please ask to come forward 49 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 Fairmount Park Commissioners Ernesta Ballard and F. Eugene Dixon, please. And we welcome Isadore Schraeger. You'll be joining us too, Commissioner? (Witnesses come forward.)

Thank you very much. COMMISSIONER DIXON: Good morning.

Good morning. COMMISSIONER DIXON: Thank you. I want to make positive comments about things that have happened in the park during my tenure as a commissioner. First, I want to comments for Michael Nutter's information that, in my opinion, the mission of the Fairmount Park Commission has been and is to preserve, protect, and maintain the open green spaces and watersheds throughout the City of Philadelphia. I have often said that as long as I'm around, which won't be much longer, that we will never sell any park land. I think that is vitally important, and I think two or three occasions, we have swamped land always getting more than we have given away. This initiative is still our primary 50 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 focus. Our residents have long relied on the Fairmount Park system to provide them with the opportunity to experience the natural environment and to make their hectic lives in the large city. It's wonderful in the summer, particularly when you see so many people utilizing all facets of the park picnics, playing. Sometimes I see dogs that have been trained to get those little things -- what do they call them? Frisbees, yes. I'm training my little dog to do that right now. I've had the -- have been very fortune to be a commissioner -- to have been a commissioner since 1977 and President of the Commission since 1983. My tenure will cease next year, and I look forward to seeing my successor do many great things for the park. During my tenure, the Commission has been able to record some very outstanding accomplishments, I believe. The privatization of our golf courses, concession facilities and grass-mowing have resulted in a substantial revenue stream and significant savings for the City treasury. Natural lands restoration, environmental 51 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 and educational programs has been able to preserve and restore significant acres of park land and watershed and maximized our efforts in environmental education and volunteerism. One of the great things about Fairmount Park is the tremendous number of volunteers, without whom we could not operate. We owe a great deal of gratitude to volunteers throughout the City of Philadelphia. (Applause.) COMMISSIONER DIXON: We have been able to develop wonderful indoor facilities such as Lloyd Hall and the Cobbs Creek Educational Center. We've also developed the Pennypack on the Delaware, which has been very important for the people in the area. We've been undertaking more ideas to bring more people to our parks and heighten their experience upon their arrival. Earlier this month, Fairmount Park was named the Commonwealth Treasure of 2001 by the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission. It is critical, in my opinion, that the Commission continue to pursue its own mission at this time, when environmental issues are of such 52 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 focus. The significance of the Commission's is leadership, the Fairmount Park's system 65 parks and their role in the Philadelphia urban life cannot be understated and must flourish in the near and distant future And lastly, if you haven't been to see the Water Works restoration, please go, you'll be amazed Thank you very much.

Thank you, Commissioner. (Applause.) COMMISSIONER BALLARD: I'm Ernesta D. Ballard, a member the Fairmount Park Commission and, I should add, a frustrated member of the Commission. Over the years that I've served in this position, I've seen the City's support for the operating budget of the park lessen. The final amounts are not too different, but what the money will buy is considerably less each year. Good management an conscientious work on the part of staff and many of the Friends groups have done everything possible to make each operating dollar go farther. Particularly impressive have been the examples of the private sector's 53 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 initiatives to show what can be done to provide the needed services, which actually save the City money. Two examples are the volunteer work coordinators and the Ranger Corps. The volunteer work coordinators, who recruit and direct hundreds of individuals, who actually spend time in the parks cleaning up, planting trees and shrubs, working on eroding stream banks, and the like. These people have saved the City thousands of dollars over the last few years. Now the private support that made it all possible is no longer available. The work with the coordinators has shown us how all -- shown us all how much they can do, and it is vital that they be continued. The cost is somewhere between 4 and $500,000 a year. The other example in which I've been closely involved is the Fairmount Park Ranger Corps. This is now in its tenth year and, due to the fact that its private support is no longer available, will cease to exist after April of this year if the salaries of the rangers are not picked up by the 24 City. The rangers, who are uniformed, patrol the parks, provide information to users, issue citations 54 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 when necessary, open and close parks that have a curfew, patrol special events, and are a very important presence, particularly in the Pennypack, the Wissahickon and East and West Fairmount Parks. The director and his staff will be hard-put to provide these services if the Ranger Corps is abandoned. Particularly important is the help they can give the police, who now have higher-than-ever responsibilities for patrolling the entire City. The rangers can relieve them in many parts of park. The cost to the City is minimal. You have been allocating $500,000 to the ranger program for the last two years. Only another $350,000 a year is all that is needed to keep the program going. The members of the board of the Ranger Corps are committed to finding private money for their ongoing support costs for equipment, supplies, uniforms, that kind of thing, which comes to approximately $125,000 a year. It cannot take on the responsibility of paying salaries. We believe that the added costs that I have outlined, the money needed for the five volunteer coordinators, approximately $500,000, and 55 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 rangers, approximately $350,000, will retain for the City services that it need not lose, that the park users and supporters want and need and that will cost us all far more money in the long run if abandoned now. Thank you.

Thank you, 9 Commissioner Ballard. 10 (Applause.) 11

Are there 12 any other commissioners? I do know that John 13 Binswanger of the Fairmount Park Conservatory will 14 be joining us with the next panel. 15 Are there any other commissioners who care 16 to share your thoughts on the record? You're 17 certainly welcome to at this time. 18 (No response.) 19

Please, 20 Commissioner Isadore Schraeger. 21 (Commissioner Schraeger comes 22 forward.) 23 COMMISSIONER SCHRAEGER: I've served on 24 various commissions over the many years that I've been around, and I feel privileged to be a part of 56 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 the Fairmount Park Commission. The commissioners are dedicated to doing everything they possibly can to benefit the park and the people who use the park, and they have an intelligent way of handling the matter so that they're not dictatorial. And I again want to say I'm just very proud to be a part of the Commissioner.

Thank you very much, Commissioner Schraeger. Councilman Nutter, might you have any questions are for this panel?

Yes, I do, Madam Chair. They are relatively brief.

Please.

Thank you. Good morning, Commissioners, both at the table and in the audience. I just -- again, given the nature of this particular hearing, I'd like to make sure that we establish as good and clear a record as possible, as we in City Council in the next few months will be getting ready to go into the budget hearing process, and I just wanted to get some fundamental information on the record with regard to the 57 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 Commission itself. The three of you, at least at the table, represent many years of service, and I wanted to get from your perspective, what is the role and duty and responsibility of a Fairmount Park Commissioner? COMMISSIONER DIXON: The role and duty of the commissioners?

Yes. COMMISSIONER DIXON: I think that mentioned that when I was talking about the mission of the park, and I think that -- it is my opinion that we must preserve and protect and maintain the open space, see to it that it is used as much as possible by the citizens of the City of Philadelphia. And above all, do not, do not ever let park land be sold. (Applause.)

Let me ask more specifically, with regard to management, operations, fund-raising, general management of the park, what, from your perspective, is the role of a Fairmount Park Commissioner with regard to those particular items? 58 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 COMMISSIONER DIXON: As far as fund-raising is concerned, as you're well aware, we have established the Fairmount Park Conservancy to raise funds from private sources. Over the years and during my tenure on the commission, we have had many contributions from private sources, which have become combined with public dollars. Without those private dollars, we would not be where we are today. Yes, it is vitally important that -- and we understand the fact that -- and we try to establish the -- let's say it's the Friends of Philadelphia Park who will be giving on an annual basis. For example, I recommended last year that we try to develop associations with businesses and ask business to give us as much as $10,000 -- to commit $10,000 a year for 5 years. As an example, I tell you, Michael, that I've been the first person that did that. I just paid my second installment as an example to show what I think should be done and what can be done. It's just a small sample of it, but we do have those things in mind. And I'm sure that Mr. Binswanger will speak to that when he comes up. I do not believe we should be raising 59 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 money for ongoing operations in the park. That, we believe, is the City's responsibility. But for certain areas such as Cobbs Creek and those things, those areas, we should try and get private funding, a combination of private and public funding.

I would agree with you. The process to become a Park Commissioner, as I best understand it, is an appointment process by way of a vote of the board of judges of the court of Common Pleas Court. As best I understand it, it's a process that was established some time back in 1867. Could you share any perspective, as commissioners, of your view of that particular process? Do you think that it works? What kind of information do you get when you become a Park Commissioner? And what, if any, relationship do you think there is between the board of judges and the Fairmount Park Commission? COMMISSIONER DIXON: Speaking from my own personal experience, and a long time ago, almost 24 years ago, I had the opportunity to speak with some 25 of the -- with the committee of the judges appointed 60 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 to make a recommendation. It was well worthwhile. I think I was pleased to have the opportunity to serve. And before each of my successive five-year terms, I was also called in to speak with the judges to give them -- tell them what we had been doing, what I had been doing personally and so forth on behalf of the commission. And as they say -- as the old expression is, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." That's a former school teacher saying that too, by the way.

I understand that. Let me ask this question: How often does the Commission meet with the Mayor? COMMISSIONER DIXON: Gee, that's a tough question. The Mayor has a seat on the Commission, as we all know. The Mayor -- I think Mayor Street's been with us once possibly? Not very often.

Okay. COMMISSIONER DIXON: Not very often.

And Mayor Street's administration is still relatively new. My most recent experience with the previous administration, Mayor Rendell, how often did Mayor Rendell meet with the Fairmount Park 61 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 Commissioners? COMMISSIONER DIXON: I honestly don't remember, but it was very, very -- a very, very few number of times and I'd have to check the record of attendance.

Is it your sense that there is a clear and direct line and articulated vision -- and you've -- I mean, after years, 10 you've seen a number of administrations. What's the 11 nature of the relationship generally between the 12 Fairmount Park Commission and any particular City 13 administration? 14 COMMISSIONER DIXON: I think that -- 15 unfortunately, I'm going to be brutally frank. I do 16 not believe in recent years that the representative 17 of the mayor has had the ear of the Mayor or has 18 been able to be in contact as much as he or she 19 ought to have been. And I think it's very 20 unfortunate. 21 Frankly, I would love to see the Mayor 22 personally attend some of the meetings. I'm sure 23 the most beneficial of the commissioner, I think it 24 might be educational for the Mayor. 25 (Applause.) 62 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 COMMISSIONER DIXON: On the other hand, I feel that in recent years that the representative of the President of the Council has been much more available and has taken a greater interest in being -- reporting to the President of Council in getting the Council's opinion. And I respect very much Councilman Clarke -- is he here?

He was right here. I think he had to leave. COMMISSIONER DIXON: I respect his assistance very much and his contact with the Council President. COMMISSIONER BALLARD: Can I just add one thing to that? I believe that former Mayor Rizzo attended almost every meeting of the Commission. I wasn't on it at the time but I often went and was an observer. COMMISSIONER DIXON: That's very true, and I had the great privilege of being a great friend of the Mayor and Hillel Levinson, who was actually -- went to his wedding many years ago, and Edith and I are going to be celebrating a few months late his 25th wedding anniversary this Friday evening. They 63 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 were very active with the Commission.

Okay. So lastly in this particular line of questioning, over the length of your various experiences, let's say, in the last 20, years, have you been able to ascertain or 7 receive directly or indirectly any particular 8 direction, view, vision for the Fairmount Park 9 system and the Fairmount Park Commissioners from a 10 particular City administration? 11 COMMISSIONER DIXON: Yes, I believe we 12 have. I have. I've met with the mayors constantly, 13 but unfortunately, I have not had the privilege of 14 meeting with Mayor Street; he's fairly new on the 15 job and has had many other problems far more 16 important, I think, than the Commissioner 17 operations, but I've met on a regular basis with the 18 previous mayors. I was so privileged to meet with 19 them. 20

I understand. Thank 21 you 22 Thank you, Madam Chair. 23

Thank you, 24 Councilman Nutter. 25 I heard loud and clear an interest to see 64 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 the rangers program stabilized and to stay in place. Speaking collectively for the Commission or individually, is there any other one or two priority interest areas that you want to see put on the radar screen at the end of these hearings? COMMISSIONER BALLARD: Well, I mentioned -- I meant to give them equal importance. The work of the five volunteer coordinators who have been working under the William Penn grant, and that is about to end, that support.

Yes, I'm aware of that. Commissioner? COMMISSIONER DIXON: If, in fact, we can keep those people on, I would hope that the William Penn people might reconsider and allow us to utilize more of the dollars which have been unspent. There's some $9 million of funding which was granted to us over the years that have not been expended to this point. So if the City can come forward with some dollars to help in these particular areas that Ernesta mentioned, we might have a shot at getting some of those 9 million that have not yet been 65 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 expended. But the problem is similar to when we first started the Ranger Corps. It was agreed when we upped the funding originally that the City would eventually pick up some of that funding to maintain it, but that never happened. And here again with this situation, with the volunteer coordinators, there was an agreements -- a verbal agreement, I imagine -- that indicated that the City would help to pick up some of these expenses. So if there's any way that the City can help us in this regard, there is still a chance, I believe, of some of these additional dollars being allocated to us in the feature. So I implore you to give consideration to that.

Okay, then. COMMISSIONER DIXON: And as far as the rangers are concerned, when I first became -- went on the Commission, I remember with great pleasure all of the park policemen, and Frank Rizzo decided to put the park patrolmen in with the regular City policemen. That was the end of really the proper protection for the people park. And if we don't have the rangers in the future -- I think there are 66 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 of them, is that not correct, at the present moment, 24 -- there will be literally no protection in the park because the City policemen are otherwise occupied. So I really implore to you give consideration to those too. Now, I understand that the budget dollars are tight, but in these areas, I think that we'll get more profit from these individual items than many others. That comes from the heart, Blondell.

Okay. Thank 12 you again, Commissioners. 13 And just let me say in closing to what may 14 have been a rhetorical question, Commissioner Dixon, 15 that as part of my homework over the past 20 months, 16 I've had a chance to visit a lot of the parks 17 throughout the City, and I will agree with you that 18 the refurbishing of the Water Works is a magnificent 19 refurbishing, and hats off to Commissioner Ballard 20 and your team for making that real for the City of Philadelphia. Thank you very much for your testimony. COMMISSIONER DIXON: Thank you very much. (Applause.)

Councilman 67 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 O'Neill?

I'd just like to make one comment to the remarks of Mr. Dixon particularly and also to all of the Commissioner members. It makes it a lot easier to go out and talk to the people in the neighborhoods around the parks that ask questions about this parcel or that parcel or this edge of the park when they hear rumors about sale. And knowing the commitment of the Fairmount Park Commission past, present, and future to preserving the fact and, in fact, adding where possible makes it a lot easier to talk to people with confidence. I thank you for that.

We will now call up our citywide park advocates. Beth Ounsworth, Friends of Philadelphia Parks; Michael Groman, Philadelphia Green/Pennsylvania Horticultural Society; Mark McGuigan, Green Space Alliance; and welcome John Binswanger, Fairmount Park Conservancy. If you will all would please come forward. (Witnesses come forward.)

Will you each state your full name for the record and proceed 68 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 with your testimony, starting with Friends of Philadelphia Parks.

I'm Beth Ounsworth, President of Friends of Philadelphia Parks. Do you want me to go first?

Please.

Good morning, Chairwoman Reynolds Brown and guests. On behalf of our board of directors and our members from all over the City, I would like to offer our vision of Philadelphia's parks and to offer some recommendations for the future for this tremendous asset to our city. We commend Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and cosponsors Councilmen Nutter and Clarke for introducing the resolution authorizing Council to hold this hearing regarding the status of Philadelphia's parks and to investigate methods to improve the parks and park systems. The issue of governance, structure, funding, staffing, and performance measures addressed in this resolution must be examined carefully. In addition, Philadelphia's parks must be an integral component of a neighborhood transformation initiative in our city. 69 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 Friends of Philadelphia Parks believes that in order to address these issues, it is the role and responsibility of City government, the Fairmount Park Commission, and the Philadelphia Department of Recreation to do a strategic plan for all of Philadelphia's parks and open spaces. (Applause.)

We are calling for the planning process to be launched promptly, for it to be professionally facilitated, and for it to cast as wide a net as possible in terms of the content, individuals, agencies, and organizations involved. A strategic plan for our parks should clearly articulate the mission, core values, goals strategies, and anticipated measurable outcomes of actions taken to maximize the importance of parks to our city. It should include strategies for management and maintenance, for development and for public relations. It should explore issues of governance and accountability. It must be grounded in concrete data and facts. It must be taken seriously by those who are involved in putting it together. We have heard talk today about a possible 70 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 exchange for Fairmount Park Commission and Department of Recreation parks and facilities. We assert that any plan to make such exchanges should include the participation of key park stakeholders. Ideally, any exchanges will be part of the strategic planning process. (Applause.)

Last December, Friends of Philadelphia Parks gave each Councilmember a copy of Peter Harnick's groundbreaking book, Inside City Parks. Earlier this month, Mr. Harnick, who is the director of the Green City's Initiative at the Trust for Public Land, held a colloquium. Attending was a small, diverse group of people from across the United States, including park directors, academics, and park advocates. Our board member Nancy Goldenberg attended, as did two staff members from Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Their goal was to define standards for determining a successful park system, standards that can be used as means for measuring systems across the United States. Mr. Harnick was not able to be here today, but he has generously provided the Friends of Philadelphia Parks with the following to be 71 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 presented for him so that we can begin to measure Philadelphia's park systems. From the colloquium came the following questions to judge the excellence of an urban park system. Does the managing agency have a clear expression of purpose? Is the system readily accessible to all residents of the city? Does the agency have a plan and a budget for an appropriate level of stewardship? For instance, is there a marketing plan for the park system and is the marketing effort funded and staffed? We think not. Does the agency have an excellent planning and design process? For instance, is your park and recreation plan integrated into the full citywide comprehensive plan? That is, are the full community vision goals and policies synchronized with the park vision? Is your park system master plan less than five years old? Is your park safe? For instance, is your agency accredited by the National Recreation and Park Association? How many visible uniformed park 72 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 personnel does your agency have such as rangers? And we've heard today about the need to keep the rangers. Philadelphia has only park rangers for 5 8900 acres of Fairmount Park. There are no rangers 6 in the Department of Recreation parks. 7 Does the system have adequate financial 8 resources? We think not. 9 Is your park system meeting the needs of 10 your residents and users? 11 We have abbreviated these and their 12 explanations, but in your handouts, Councilmembers, 13 you have a more comprehensive explanation of 14 Mr. Harnick's points. 15 Friends of Philadelphia Parks believes 16 that our parks and city will be well served by 17 examining and addressing these issues. Now is the 18 seminal time for the City of Philadelphia and our 19 parks. In the year 2001, park systems, park 20 leadership, and city governments across America are 21 examining, evaluating, and reenergizing their visions for urban parks. They are forming strategic partnerships with park stakeholders and the private sector. In June, 2002, the Fairmount Park 73 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 Commissioners will be at the end of their terms. President Dixon and Commissioner Ballard will be completing their final terms after many years of dedicated service. As friends of Philadelphians Parks looks at what our parks need to be first-rate, we are examining the issue of what citizens have a right to expect from park leadership. To that end, we are establishing a set of criteria of necessary attributes and abilities of Fairmount Park Commissioners. They include: A demonstrated passion for parks and familiarity with neighborhood parks and natural lands. A demonstrated interest in collaborating with stakeholders and citizens and government and nonprofits. A commitment to reach out to other agencies and businesses in a creative and strategic way. A commitment to raise funds, contribute, or influence fund-raising. A willingness to commit time. An understanding of the importance of 74 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 constituency-building and ensuring the future of our city's parks and open space.

An ability and willingness to be a spokesperson with an articulate vision for the parks. And for the office of president, as Mr. Dixon is unfortunately stepping down, when Mr. Dixon hands over the reins in June, it must be to a visionary president who is bold and entrepreneurial. She or he must strategically direct the Commission while remaining focused on the criteria I have outlined so that Fairmount Park will become all that it can be to all of Philadelphia and the region. In addition to the essential need for a citywide strategic plan for Philadelphia's parks, there are two concrete issues that are of particular concern to park constituents: The continued funding of the five volunteer coordinator and five supervisor positions in Fairmount Park; and the sustainability and increased hours and funding for the seasonal maintenance attendant, SMAs, program in the Recreation Department parks. At a time when City dollars must 75 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. )

Thank you. -- the volunteers in our city be understood. If the five paid volunteer coordinator and field supervisor positions not funded by the City when the William Penn Natural Lands Grant ends in 2002, the negative impact on our parks, natural land, and neighborhoods will be enormous. Imagine Philadelphia's parks without their volunteers and you will envision neighborhoods and open space that are significantly less safe, clean, and vibrant, as well as less appropriate venues for educational, athletic, and creative activities. You will not see schools, families, community organizations partnering with and using these parks. What you will witness is a significant increase in drug activity, drinking, prostitution, vandalism, and other undesirable activities. (Applause.)

It is important that the 76 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 funding of these positions not be taken from other existing positions in the Fairmount Park Commission. Likewise for the volunteer program to remain effective, it is essential that there be adequate and sustained supervision and support for these positions. The SMA program and the Recreation Department parks have been extremely successful and it can be even more so. We ask City Council to support the extraordinary collaboration between Philadelphia Green, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and the Philadelphia Department of Recreation, and the remarkably dedicated volunteers who work in Philadelphia's recreation parks. (Applause.)

Please guarantee that this program will be sustained. Fund year-round full-time SMAs in recreation parks. Increase the hourly wage. Doing so will be a guaranteed investment in Philadelphia's neighborhoods that we know will be paid back. We hope that you will take a few moments to examinine the charts, maps, and photographs in our handouts that are also displayed in City Council 77 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 chambers today. They provide a snapshot of the state of our parks and begin to illustrate the essential need for a citywide strategic plan for all parks. The Friends of Philadelphia Parks has begun our own strategic planning process and would certainly offer to participate in any process that the City decides to undertake. It must be understood that parks are as essential to a city's welfare as other departments. Arguments are being made to that effect by cities across the nation. Mayors are literally transforming their cities based on park platforms. They are reaching out of the box, linking park improvement to everything from school systems and crime rates to tourism, health, and economic development. At times such as these, when people are turning to open space and nature for solace and community, the importance of our parks is more relevant now than ever. Thank you.

Thank you very much. 78 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 (Applause.)

Please, Michael Groman.

Good morning, Councilmembers and guests and those who are old enough to vote and those who aren't, who I see over here on the side here. My name is Mike Groman, and I'm the Director of the Philadelphia Green Program at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. And Philadelphia Green has been working in this city for nearly 30 years now and helping neighborhood residents and community organizations, City agencies, and other groups to create and maintain what we call "quality open spaces." We feel that's important to the city. These projects range from small community gardens and vacant lots to help to improve the appearance of the block itself to large landscapes that are within the public realm such as the Art Museum and Penn's Landing, and they're symbols to all visitors about the quality of life in the City of Philadelphia. Only in the past nine years has Philadelphia Green been able to work with 79 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 neighborhood parks. With resources provided through the generosity of the William Penn Foundation and the Wallace Readers Digest Foundation, Philadelphia Green formed its parks revitalization parks project that is a model that looks to do a number of things. First of all, it looks to improve the physical appearance of neighborhood parks, it looks to tap into the energy of the Friends of Parks groups to build their capacity to become effective stewards of the parks, and it also looks to reinstitute neighborhood parks as the centers of community life. We want to transform them from places that were feared to places that are now friendly. Our parks revitalization project has some very impressive tangible results over these past nine years. The project now works with 41 neighborhood parks throughout the City, probably several in every Councilmatic District that we can name. Nearly 80 acres of park land have been improved. Over 9,000 community volunteers have participated in the work, and over $3 million has been leveraged to support this work. That's quite impressive results. All of this has been accomplished through 80 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 a very unique and effective partnership with the City's Department of Recreation and also with the Friends of the Philadelphia Parks. The Department of Recreation has been very committed to this process. It has wholeheartedly committed its resources and staff to support this effort, and we have to congratulate them for that. (Applause.)

It's also important to say that this partnership has received national recognition across the country and is serving as a model for other cities to follow. So not everything is bad in Philadelphia with the park system, and I think we should all be proud of the tremendous work that is happening. (Applause.)

That being said, the parks revitalization project has also yielded some impressive, what we call, "intangible results" that in many ways are much more significant, particularly with respect to quality of life in our neighborhoods. Over the past nine years, the project has helped to reduce crime in the parks and in the surrounding neighborhoods. It has had a very 81 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 positive impact on real estate values around the parks. It has increased the sense of community ownership of the parks by creating defensible space. It has also increased the capacity of neighborhood volunteers to be good caretakers of their parks, and over all, it has increased community pride. These intangible results of the parks are based, of course, on anecdotal evidence and also including testimonials from the communities that have been involved with these projects. However, they need to be considered as we continue to discuss the future of the City parks and the opportunities they present for the City's future as a whole. Now, in looking to the immediate future, Philadelphia Green will, of, course continue its work with neighborhood parks in the City. And if circumstances permit me, (unintelligible) to expand its work to include those parks that are under the jurisdiction of the Fairmount Park Commission. However, taking a broader view, Philadelphia Green is promoting an approach it calls "a green city strategy," which, in effect, means a long-term investment in parks, streetscapes, vacant land, and other open spaces as a means to attract 82 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 population, attract investment, and overall rebuild the City of Philadelphia. A recent survey conducted by the National Home Builders Association indicates that a location near well-maintained neighborhood parks and other open spaces is one of the top factors that determine where people choose to live, and that's all we're trying to do here, is attract people back into the City of Philadelphia. (Applause.)

With over 10,000 acres of park land within its boundaries, the City of Philadelphia has a true asset that cannot be ignored. Now, it's good to hear Bill Mifflin and other folks talk about strategic planning because we're all looking at strategic planning as something important for the City to do. Philadelphia Green will soon be working closely with the city's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative and other City agencies and various stakeholders to further develop this green city concept into a strategic plan that can easily be integrated into and support whatever citywide revitalization plan the City 83 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 adopts overall. We look forward to working with the Department of Recreation, the Fairmount Park Commission, and other significant players who hold a vested interest in this work, to examine the opportunities, the issues, the systems, and also the funding required to make this plan a reality. Now, in conclusion, for any such effort to be successful, we certainly see that three things are required, and I think everybody has been talking about these three things tonight. One is leadership, the other is vision, and the third is resources. At a minimum, we look to this city to provide the leadership and the vision to make this happen, and we truly feel that once these two pieces are in place, that the resources will come. So thank you for the opportunity for this presentation today.

You're welcome. (Applause.)

Mr. John Binswanger.

Thank you very much, Councilwoman. I'm John Binswanger and I'm President of the Fairmount Park Conservancy. 84 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 The Conservancy was formed with the specific purpose of reaching out to the private sector in support of the Fairmount Park system but also to encourage and foster an ongoing partnership between the public and private sector in this regard. The hearings and your findings are very important to this end, dedicated to rallying our region's private-sector leadership in support of Fairmount Park system. The Fairmount Park Conservancy comes to these hearings with perhaps a slightly different perspective than the other groups you've heard, or will be hearing from. Our interest stems from the recognition that the Fairmount Park system is a critical component of Philadelphia's infrastructure as the Fairmount Park: One, attracts and retains people in jobs in Philadelphia and its neighborhoods; contributes to the positive real estate values and unique urban quality of life; safeguards our air and water quality with abundant healthy woodlands and watersheds; and is a national treasure and a showpiece for our city and a major tourist attraction. 85 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 In past times, City Council's concern with Philadelphia's urban infrastructure resulted in huge investments in roads, bridges, and public buildings, all of which were vitally needed. Today, parks and open space have become a new measure of community wealth, an important way to attract businesses and residents by guaranteeing both quality of life and economic health. In short, parks can serve to increase the City's tax base for things like schools, neighborhood improvement, and so forth. A study on the economic benefits of urban parks undertaken by the Trust for Public Lands stated: Voters are coming to understand that conservation and open space are investments, not costs. In other cities, valid measures seeking funds for conservation and open space have received the highest rates of approval. Owners of small businesses rank the recreation, parks, and open space as the highest priority in choosing a new location for their businesses. Corporate CEOs say that quality of life for employees is the third most important factor in locating a business, behind only access to domestic markets and availability of the skilled labor. 86 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 And in survey after survey, homebuyers identify nearby open space and trails as among the top features in choosing a home. For these reasons, we believe Fairmount Park should be a focal point for Philadelphia's economic development and neighborhood renewal. Yes, it can be an income-producing area, and it needs to be worked on very specifically. It also -- and everybody has spoken about this, it needs a broad-based strategic plan. The Conservancy is now working on a plan within their own group, but we realize it has to ring in all of the constituencies in the City. We have scheduled some meetings later in December with members of the City and the business community and some of the institutions to bring this to a fore for them and to have them cooperate in what we're doing. A vigorous and effective partnership of public and private interests will achieve the revitalization of Fairmount Park. The Fairmount Park Conservancy is committed to leading a coalition of business and philanthropic interests in political and financial support of the parks. More than 80 park Friends groups, 30,000 citizens, continue to 87 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 rally grassroots volunteer, financial, and (indiscernible) support for the parks in their districts, and I commend Beth and all of the things that the Friends are doing because they do a fabulous job. (Applause.)

But it is essential that the City step up to the table as well. I am sure you are well aware of the alarming downward trend in funding for Fairmount Park. Donors to Fairmount Park are telling us that they are hard-pressed to increase their giving is the City is not also committed to investing in the future of Fairmount Park. We encourage you, therefore, to think hard about the benefits we all derive from the park and to support our initiatives in every way, including an increase in the investment and the support the City currently provides. We know it's not an easy task, but we ask you to commit to increase your investments, and we are confident you will have a direct effect on the funding and support that we can receive. I thank you for providing us the 88 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 opportunity to testify today and we'll be glad to answer any questions.

Thank you, Mr. Binswanger. (Applause.)

Please.

Good morning, Chairman Reynolds Brown. My name is Patrick Starr, and I'm the Director of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Mark McGuigan is a member of my staff and the Green Space Alliance is a project of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Thank you for this opportunity to speak and thank you to all of the members to Council for taking your time to hear us on this important issue. I wanted to speak briefly today in support of the strategic planning idea for Fairmount Park and increased funding for Philadelphia's parks. Just a word on the Council. It's a 30-year-old statewide nonprofit dedicated to good public policy and practice, promoting environmentally sound land use and protection of waters in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Our Alliance Project is one here in metropolitan 89 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 Philadelphia; that is a coalition of the region's major conservation organizations involved in protecting land. Leaders in that alliance include the Horticultural Society and other land trusts and conservancies from the suburbs in southeastern Pennsylvania. That said, my comments are greatly colored by my role in open-space issues. Suburban communities surrounding Philadelphia in Southeastern Pennsylvania invest in their parks. Over the past 10 years, more than $400 million has been voted and approved in special bond initiatives and out of general revenues among communities in the four suburban Philadelphia counties in Southeastern Philadelphia.

State that fact again, please, for the record.

Over $400 million. We actually keep track of this through our Alliance Project; we can document where the monies have been improved, in what communities. And I think it's a very sobering reality check for Philadelphia. I want to add, that is in addition to the 90 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 funds they are currently expending on maintenance and operations of their parks. The issue is different, but the point is, the value has been granted in those communities. They have created excellent park systems, even as those communities benefit from large state parks within their boundaries, noting that Philadelphia has none, and extensive privately conserved open space. They have clearly recognized the value of park and recreation to economic development and population retention, especially, I will note, Chester County, which has made open space protection a cornerstone of its efforts to attract economic development. Needless to say, Philadelphia isn't competing well, as evidenced by our recent 2000 census. I just want to add, researchers, such as Professor Richard Florida (ph.) of Carnegie University, have been documenting this reality and have developed extensive research showing that today's employers and workers can choose to locate anywhere, and the experience of the last 30 years is that they have. Access to open space and outdoor recreational amenities is one of the driving factors 91 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 in the new economy, according to Professor Florida. And when you look at the list of growing cities -- San Francisco, Washington, Raleigh-Durham, Denver Minneapolis -- it becomes clear the degree to which the access to outdoor amenities is a critical element of their growth. Here in Philadelphia, we have failed to embrace the parks as a critical asset -- not extra, not superfluous, but essential -- and have cut back park and rec. expenditures inordinately. And by the way, that said, my hat is off to the park director, his staff, the recreational commissioner and his staff, and the thousands of volunteers who have tried to fill the breach. I would add today that a fundamental commitment to the Fairmount Park system, a thorough ongoing strategic plan process is recommended by other parties here at the table. Investment of significant local, state, and federal resources in the parks is critical to the success of the City and all of the region. I must add, though, that for the City to truly succeed, we must be bold and actually, I'm going to say, look at expanding the open spaces 92 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 within our City's boundaries. (Applause.)

I take particular note of Mike Groman's testimony and just want to point out that the evidence of 30 years of abandonment cannot be clearer. People with choice want open space and more than is offered in most city neighborhoods today. Clearly, the loss of population and business has created enormous blight in our city, but it also represents a tremendous opportunity. And, again, whatever Neighborhood Transformation Initiative this Council adopts, whatever form it takes, it must recognize that integrating additional open space into our transformed neighborhoods is critical to the City's ability to compete in retaining residents. Additionally, new planning efforts led by the City Planning Commission and supported by Councilwoman Krajewski on the Delaware River front have shown, and will show, how new development can move forward hand in hand with the creation of a new riverfront greenway and recreational amenities that can anchor growth in our city for years to come. 93 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 What is clear is that without a fundamental recommitment to our parks, both the existing system and future spaces, the City is doomed to its continued failure in its competition with neighboring communities. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

I want to thank all of you for your testimony. Let me welcome to our chambers Councilwoman Joan Krajewski. Just a couple questions. One, Mr. Binswanger, how old is the Conservancy?

Two years old. It was conceived two years ago. It is now up and running pretty strong.

And already you are talking about a strategic plan, and you've indicated that at some juncture, you'll be bringing in other parties, some of which are here today, to become a part of that discussion and dialogue?

That's correct. We're inviting the major City groups the -- PIDC, the Philadelphia Chamber, Center City District, some of 94 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 the foundations and then some of the corporate group as well -- to interact with what is being told today from the Friends and other groups. So we're trying to broaden it out to get a much broader concept of what's going on.

Well, again, never again, including me, no one needs to ask, "And where's the business community? 'cause you've spoken well to that as well in your testimony. Mike Groman, with the anticipated interest of the pending NTI activities, can you speak to -- and the Horticultural Society already has a real track record with regards to transforming green space. Are you all a part of those conversations and discussions?

With NTI?

Yes.

Yeah. We've been working with NTI probably for about the last year, year and a half. And in some ways, we have been serving as their advisors, their consultants, and almost a surrogate staff in some ways. We do see that as the path for advocating for quality open spaces and particularly for management of vacant lands since 95 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 that's also one of the major problems in the City. And in fact, the strategic plan that I've talked about under this whole concept of a green city strategy is actually going to happen with dollars from NTI in conjunction with dollars from the William Penn Foundation. So things going are really going to be in place.

Very well. Let me thank you all again. Do any of my colleagues -- Councilman Angel Ortiz was here at one point. Any questions for our panel?

I just want to thank you for coming in and I just want to applaud you for taking such an interest. And, believe me, we do need you there. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you very, very much. (Applause.)

Forgive me, forgive me, I just got the green light from Councilman Nutter. 96 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 Please.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm sorry if I was giving confusing signals earlier. Just a quick question about the Conservancy. One, again, Mr. Binswanger, thank you for your great stewardship of the park. I may have missed this in the testimony. I know that you indicated that the Conservancy is up and running. Can you speak a little bit about fund-raising activities and dollars raised? I was looking for that in the testimony; maybe you mentioned it. I was distracted a couple times during the panel's presentation and I apologize.

The dollars raised have been very minimal. We have raised enough to basically stay in operation as an independent organization. We have not raised major dollars, although we did receive a gift from Ace (ph.) yesterday for $25,000 for Mt. Pleasant. We are working with a major giver on trail restoration, bike-trail restoration that could fund a great deal of the restoration, but these are ongoing. I think the issue at the moment is that 97 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 our need is to raise some basic dollars to really do a formal marketing and put together a staffing that can really go to the constituency and be able to tell the story properly. We have a very good executive director in Mary Farrell, and she's doing a great job and we need more support for her. But the issue for us at the moment is -- and the people that we have talked to in the community, and I emphasize this, and I did make a comment in my remarks. What we're hearing is that if the City is not behind us -- and I'm talking about Council and the Mayor and everyone, is not behind us that the private sector is not going to step up and do this alone. And I don't mean just in dollars, but in support. We are not trying to raise money to operate the park; that is not our desire or our mission. Our mission is to raise money for special projects in the park. For things like the Water Works, for other historic houses, for recreation, for environmental needs, but not in the day-to-day operation of the park. And when we go to the corporations for those kind of dollars, we need to be able to tell them that the City is behind us 100 98 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 percent.

Okay. Let me ask you this question: In terms of City support, one, I think on a more personal level and certainly many of my colleagues have been long supporters of the park, it's certainly a two-part process. We allocate the dollars as the budget is put forward by any particular City administration. Can you tell me about your interaction or your discussions that you've had with the current administration, Mayor Street's administration, either Mayor Street directly or the Budget Director or the Secretary of Financial Operations.

I have had personally a few brief conversations with the Mayor. We were supposed to meet several times in the last couple of months, but unfortunately, with what's going on with the School Board and other issues, the Fairmount Park has not taken a priority, and I understand that. But we're hopeful of being able to meet in the next 30 days; I don't have a date yet. Bruce Crawley is a member of our board, and he's working with me to get that date so we can really address 99 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 the Mayor and have him understand what we're trying to accomplish.

Okay. And what about the Budget Office and the Finance Director?

We have not talked to either of the groups at this point.

Okay. Lastly, I asked some questions earlier about the various trusts that the park manages. Is there a level of coordination between the Conservancy and the park about these kinds of matters just to make sure that we either are not cross-completing or projects are coordinated in accordance with a larger plan by the park system about what should be done and how dollars should be spent?

I think it's safe to say that the park staff is concentrating more on state and federal grants, including institutional grants, the William Penn Foundation and others. We do overlap in some of those, but we are coordinating those -- there is not a lack of coordination in that. When we are going to the William Penn, we are doing it together. They do understand the differences in what we're doing, in what we're 100 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 trying to accomplish.

Okay, thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councilman Nutter. Thank you all, panelists.

Thank you.

I want to invite back Commissioner Mifflin and Commissioner Richard because Councilman Frank Rizzo has returned and Councilman Rick Mariano has questions. So if we could please invite you back up Thank you. (Witnesses come forward.)

Councilman Rick Mariano.

Thank you, Councilwoman. To both commissioners, real quick, I got to go to another meeting, but I live in Juniata Park on the 4300 block of Lawndale Street. I live less than a hundred yards from a recreation center. Juniata Park Boys' Club; in fact, the Commissioner and I are meeting about the Boys' Club tomorrow, Commissioner Richards {sic}. But we have Fairmount 101 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 Park there too, the golf course, so it's a synopsis of pretty much what the City has to offer for parks and recreation and what this committee and these hearings are about. And I'm hearing a lot of good things here. But my one question is, in 1999, caught up in our reelection campaigns, there was a plan that became a political football, and it wasn't my idea, it was some or or 100 people that were running against me's idea, but what they did is, we were going to put a nature center up there, like we have in Cobbs Creek -- is that the one that I saw? I saw one somewhere, it was a nature center that you have. That's not going to happen because it was a political football, and I said, Well, wait till the election's over, I guarantee I'll win, and we'll do it anyhow 'cause I'm in favor of this thing. So, of course, I'm a man of my word, I won, and I haven't heard anything. I've talked a little bit off the record and the feelings I'm getting some people that were involved -- not you directly -- were that the group that's involved in these nature centers are a little shy over this kind of political controversy, but now we're two years into another 102 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 election cycle, so in two more years, we're going to go through the same thing over, and this thing won't be built. Now, I grew up a mile from where I live now, less than a mile, so I always use the park. You know, I was always in the park, I was in the Boy Scouts, the nature groups. We were always doing things -- we played sports at the Boys' Club, did a lot of things in those parks. But those trees in that park in Juniata were -- I'm 46 years old, those trees are probably a lot older than me. They were old trees when I started playing around in there. So this is something that we could do and I don't know where the money comes from that. When a group came in with the previous recreation commissioner, they explained all that and it all sounded like, Gee, we got this money and we want to do this nature center. If you let us have it, we'll do it. And then it became a political hotbed and then we got past that. And can you help me with that, if that's ever going to happen or if something like that is what we're looking at? ), then the Boys' Club, which 103 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 we take care of through Recreation -- I'm always giving them money and I'm always giving them money out of my capital budget. And if that was done and it was back in the park, possibly the guy that runs that or those people can help him; do you know what I'm trying to say? I mean, it could be a big cooperative effort. And that's the kind of thing that we're looking at. There's parts in that park where people never go down anymore that would be great nature trails and things like that, like where I saw in the other places. Can you elaborate, either one of youse? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Thank you, Councilman. I am also very familiar with the process that you were engaged in with regards to the siting of the environmental center in Tacony Park. And the Park Commission. And in concert with the William Penn Foundation, and it was -- it was going to be the -- the construction of the facility was going to be in part funded by the William Penn Foundation, decided that we would not proceed with any of the environmental centers that were being funded under the William Penn Foundation, with the exception of 104 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES.

010518 the small expansion of Pennypack and the one at Cobbs Creek, which you have referenced, have enjoyed State and city dollars. However, the trails that you mentioned and the action and the entrance into the park is extremely important. We have completed a trails master plan, and we wish to sit down and discuss with you and other interested District Councilpeople how we all could become better partners in improving and in developing better trails. We have and are continuing to provide environmental education outreach programs; and in fact, we use existing facilities, and we provided an environmental day camp at the FURCO Recreation Center. So earlier in testimony, we were talking about right-sizing and the opportunity to copartner with the Department of Recreation in providing programs, and we think this is a way in which we should look into the future and providing the type of program that the community wants and the community needs and I know that you support, and again, as well as looking into the trail restoration and entrances gateways into the park and improving 105 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 upon those with both private and public dollars. So we're committed to that part of the Tacony Park.

So, Commissioner, is that William Penn money dead forever or will it come back? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: No, it --

For that specific use, for the nature Center. 'Cause I thought the nature center was a great idea. And the politics up there, real quick, like, the people that walk the dogs, "the dog walkers," we call them, they didn't want the nature center 'cause I guess the nature center would make the dogs not want to go to the bathroom. I couldn't understand what was going on. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Well, it was not -- that was not the reason why we did not proceed. Again, we looked at issues of sustainability. And I think the William Penn Foundation, as Mr. Dixon indicated, will continue to be a major supporter of Fairmount Park if in fact they perceive some level of City buy-in to our program. So the program is on the books, we can 106 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 implement it. We certainly have the will and the interest to proceed.

Thank you. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: You're welcome.

The other commissioner, can you reply? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: No. 9

Thank you very much.

Thank you Councilman Rizzo?

Thank you, Madam Chair.

You're welcome.

Just to follow up on that thought. I sent you a letter, and I don't need to rehash that, on October 18th. The Pennypack Environmental Center Advisory Council has a similar concern. Without me -- and if you need, I'll read this letter that I wrote to you, but if you can describe the rationale behind my letter and possibly answer the question as it relates to my communication to you on the issue of the Pennypack Environmental Center Advisory Council. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Thank you. I 107 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 apologize. I'm looking in the audience for Deborah Carr, my environmental education director, who may be able to help me with specifics here. But, Councilman, your letter is on the point in which the Councilman inquires about the long-term sustainability of the programs that have been generated at the Pennypack Environmental Center, which is located in Pennypack Park off of Verree Road. We were able to bolster the staff at the center by virtue of a grant from the William Penn Foundation. That grant is scheduled to conclude in June of next year. And the question is, what position is Fairmount Park in in relationship to continuing the environmental education programs that have been established there? Very quickly. One, this is a facility and, in fact, Councilman Rizzo, I opened with your father, when he was mayor of the City, so this is a -- the Pennypack Environmental Center has been in existence since the mid-'70s. It has always staffed and funded by the Fairmount Park Commission and will continue into the future. We are absolutely committed to this facility. Your question is, now that we have 108 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 expended programs and there is an expectation from the residents that these programs will continue, our plan is to request, and we have preliminarily meetings with the William Penn Foundation, for them to consider the funding of this environmental position. And in fact, there is an additional position of administrator there as well, also funded by the William Penn Foundation. And again -- and I apologize for being repetitive. Both Commission President Dixon and Commissioner Ballard and Binswanger all spoke to if we receive some support for volunteer coordinators and for field supervisors, that, we believe, will leverage the William Penn Foundation into providing the funding for the staff of which you are writing about. However, with organizations like the Fairmount Park Conservancy and others, we are committed to find the funding for essential staff such as environmental educators. The Conservancy will focus its fund-raising efforts on capital projects and programs. And environmental education is one of the four major tenets of the Conservancy's fund-raising initiatives. 109 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 So we have, I guess you could say. a couple of irons in the fire. And we have until June of '02 to solve this issue. Debbie, did I miss something? This is -- let me introduce Deborah Carr, who is the Environmental Education Director for the Fairmount Park Commission.

Hello, everyone. Did you want any statistics on Pennypack itself? I'd just like to point out that with the expanded staff, we have expanded programs at Pennypack, and the statistics are really wonderful to look at. Right now, we have a staff there with the City position of nature specialist, and we have two environmental educators, one who goes all over the City to do outreach programming, talking about the restoration efforts that the William Penn grant has been funding, and talking about (indiscernible) restoration and erosion. And the results of the outreach in our programming has been really wonderful. And in looking at the statistics, last year alone, that small staff did over 151 programs 110 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 just with our City schools alone -- and that was children coming out to the centers, and that doesn't even include outreach.

Thank you for that Mr. Mifflin, in that same letter, could you report -- and I apologize if you've already addressed this. Could you respond to the fact that some of the other centers are on hold? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yes. In part, my response to Councilman Mariano, we have designed four environmental education centers -- four additional environmental education centers, which designs have been completed. They are on hold until we can ensure the sustainability of those structures and of that staff. So we believe environmental education is a major component of what we do, but we -- if we could provide those same programs in existing Department of Recreation facilities or School District of Philadelphia facilities, I think it's incumbent upon us to ensure that we've exhausted all of those opportunities first before we would embark on new construction.

I asked that question 111 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 first for continuity reasons, but I would like to address another issue. You recall during the budget progress, I specifically asked the question, and I think I saw the expression on our chairman's face -- when I asked the question her antenna went up -- about some of the problems that I observe as a Councilman-at-large being in every community in the City, I think I pointed out to you, Commissioner Richard, about the fact that you have neighborhood parks, and I see there's folks here representing some of those neighborhood parks. And I've always wondered why, since there's no recreational equipment, and I know we discussed this briefly earlier, and you may have addressed it when I had to leave the chamber for a few minutes, but I brought this up, and there was interest from you back during the budget process. And I believe there was interest from Director Mifflin that this is an area -- and Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown indicated that we need to maybe do business differently, and I believe you were addressing this issue, but I didn't hear that part specifically addressed. Maybe you did and I just didn't pick up on it. 112 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 But I'm wondering, and I think I had a conversation that no one wants to assume responsibility without the budget and back and forth between -- has anything other than -- since we discussed this during the budget process, we hope that when we bring you here to these budget processes and some of the things that we throw out to you that you catch the ball and you run with it. It appears to me that after that conversation during the budget process, nothing happened. I don't believe I heard of any -- any negotiation between the Fairmount Park Commission and the Recreation Department to really look at this and look at it carefully to see if Vernon Park or looking at one of the other parks that are situated in our neighborhoods are really best placed with the Recreation Department. No recreation equipment, but obviously just sitting back putting your feet up is, in many people's eyes, recreation, but you're not experts -- at least I think someone in your organization told me of some of the things that the park has expertise in. Are you convinced, after now having had these many months to think about this, do you think 113 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 that you as the Recreation Department should be doing what you do in some of these community parks? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Yeah, you may have been out of the room, but we did discuss that, yes. We had one serious meeting a couple of weeks ago.

As a result of this hearing? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: No. 10

No? Okay. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: No. It's something that needed to be done, and not to resurrect the dead, but a document was represented from previous work that was done in '96. So I said -- and maybe you were out of the room -- you need to make tough decisions, you just have to make the decisions that need to be made.

So are you saying that those facilities that I just described should be -- COMMISSIONER RICHARD: What I'm saying is that a lot of work has been done in the past. What I'm saying is we have the opportunity to do it. It hasn't been done now and I think it's time to get it done.

To get what done 114 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 specifically? To transfer the management of those facilities from Recreation to the park? COMMISSIONER RICHARD management responsibility, programming. You need to do the business different, yeah. I think you were out of the room.

I apologize for it. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Talking about it is one thing and getting it done is another. We need to get it done.

Your budget's been cut, right? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: That happens at times too

It has been, correct? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Yeah.

How much? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Since I've been here, $1.14 million.

That's a burden, obviously. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Well, the thing that I'm responsible is not just for the management of the Recreation Department; the decisions that I'm 115 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 responsible for is also relative to keeping the entire city in the black. So some of the tough decisions that needed to be made we need to make 'em. So it's not having a total vision relative to just the parks or Fairmount Park or my particular area's responsibility; I'm responsible to keep the entire City's coffers in the black /and that's how I render the decisions.

Okay, I think that's it for now. Thank you.

I want to take a moment and introduce Councilman-At-Large Kenney, who also has a broad interest historically. Welcome, Councilman Kenney. And a lot of us are pressed for time; I am sensitive to that, including our young people. There are young people from Huey School in West Philadelphia are here, and they too are crunched. (Applause.)

Given the fact that their bus is going to leave real quickly, we want to give our young person, also a testifier, Marvin Brown, an opportunity to state for us his 116 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 view and perspective on Philadelphia City parks. And then we will continue with our panel presentations. (Witness comes forward.)

Please. Good morning. How are you? Good morning. MARVIN BROWN: Good morning.

Welcome. Please state your full name for us and then tell us what you want us to know. MARVIN BROWN: My name is Marvin Brown. Good morning. To the honorable John Street, also to the Philadelphia City Council members: My name is Marvin Brown. I am a 4th-grade student at Huey School, located at 52nd and Pine Streets. The reason I am writing this is to tell you why our City parks are important. Our City parks are important because they have trees and trees give us oxygen. Malcolm X Park is important because it is closest to the neighborhood. City parks are important because they give people more space to themselves. Parks are important so animals such as squirrels and birds can 117 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 build their homes. Also, parks are important so trees can block the sun. Parks are important so grownups can act like kids again. Parks are important because they have worms and nuts and that's what squirrels and birds feed from. Parks are important so kids five and under can be safe from cars. I feel good when I see that the park is cleaned up, but it makes me sad to see the park dirty. It makes me feel good that we have a park across the street from the school so when the teachers feel that the students need more freedom, they can go across the street to the park. Malcolm X Park used to be junky and kids didn't care about it. Now kids from all over the community come to help and some even join groups. One of them is the park patrol. The park patrol helps clean the park. All these reasons are why it is important to have City parks and make the community better than it is. Sincerely, Marvin Brown. (Applause.)

Mr. Brown? 118 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 We want to thank you for that testimony, and it's our expectation that one day, you'll be a Commissioner of Philadelphia Fairmount Park. (Applause.)

Thank you very, very much. We have questions from Councilman Nutter and then we'll proceed with our next panel.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Let me also thank Marvin Brown, one spoken like a true West Philadelphian. I also had the opportunity to play what was called at the time "Black Oak Park" before it became Malcolm X Park, and it was the park in my neighborhood; I grew up about three blocks away from Black Oak, now Malcolm X Park. The other thing I would say about his testimony is that not only in parks do adults get the opportunity to act like children, sometimes it happens actually in this building. (Laughter.)

Thank you, Madam Chair. To the Director and Commissioner, Director 119 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 Mifflin, can you tell us -- I want to go back to some of your response to Councilman Mariano, and I think also Councilman Rizzo raised some questions about the environmental education centers, both the once that were planned as well as the ones that, in your words, "are on hold." I did not completely understand the response with regard to the opportunity to fund them and then leverage some of the William Penn money. So I want to stay in that context for the moment. It was my understanding from previous hearings and other discussions that the William Penn dollars will expire or that grant will grant expire sometime next year, and somewhere between 9 and $10 million will be left unspent from that particular grant; is that correct? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yes.

And that these environment education centers were a part of the original proposal to be covered by the $26 million; is that correct? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yes.

And your testimony today is that one of the reasons that many of the 120 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 centers were not developed is because either we weren't sure that we could fund them and staff them after the grant; is that -- DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yes.

Okay. And is that a process whereby during the course of the grant years, we needed to bring staff on to be able to anticipate the end of the grant and then those people would continue on as public employees; was that the original thought and game plan here? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: It's not a part of the grant proposal for the City or the Fairmount Park Commission to hire the environmental educators.

How were they going to be staffed? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: In the original grant proposal, we had considered constructing four environmental centers of about 3,000 square feet each and that they would be staffed by a combination of --

Was it four or five? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Well, four.

Four. What were those? What were they? 121 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Tacony Park.

Right. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Wissahickon, FDR Park, and Fairmount.

When you say "Fairmount," are you talking at Strawberry Mansion? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yes, sir.

All right. And so how many did we do? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: We didn't construct any of those.

Okay. And the reason is because we didn't have staff for them? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: I think it was a combination of things, Councilman. It was our ability to sustain the staff after the grant would expire.

That means bringing the staff on, or having funding available to pay for that staff, right? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yes, that's correct. There was funding in the grant for the staff.

Right, I understand that. 122 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: And in fact, we have proceeded to hire the environmental education staff, as I've previously testified, but we've elected not to construct the buildings.

So where are these people working? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: They work out of existing environmental centers in Fairmount Park, in the Pennypack Environmental Center, in the Andorra Environmental Center --

How many people would have had to come onto the payroll or would you have had to support in order to have those four centers up and running? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: I think two staff members per center, or a total of eight.

And so your testimony is that over the course of four years, presently four and a half, going on five, in the course of that time period, we were not able to identify funding to support salaries for eight people over a five-year period? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: That's correct.

Was a budget request 123 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 made for those salaried positions and denied? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: The positions for those centers were never requested out of the City budget, and it was not considered to be a function of the City budget after the conclusion of the grant. We were going to seek additional financial support for those positions.

Of non-City sources? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yes, sir. Our focus for the last two years for City funding has been on the volunteer coordinators.

Well, I guess what I'm now trying to understand is if you had planned to seek non-City outside funding support for the eight people at a time when we couldn't even figure out how to fund and support the ranger program, who was going to provide the dollars for these environmental education center people as the funding continued to drop for the ranger program, which came out of the same concept of initial funding by the foundation? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: That's right.

Subsequent pickup in funds by the City? The ranger program started with how many people? Was it 81 or 78? 124 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: 80.

80. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Actually at one point, we had 120.

Okay. And how many do we have today? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Less than 25.

So percent are 10 left. 11 DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yes, sir. 12

So who was going to 13 raise the money for the eight -- 14 DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: In fact, Councilman, 15 that's why the decision was made not to proceed. In 16 1996, when we applied for the grant, the idea was to 17 include these environmental education centers. It 18 became apparent after two years that it would be a 19 very difficult challenge to build the buildings, 20 which came in over budget, and to staff them. So there was a decision made by the Park Commission and in concert with the William Peen foundation that we would not proceed at the present time with building these centers and obligate the park or the City for additional -- finding the funds 125 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 for these additional staff. You're absolutely right when you talk about, how are you going to do that when you are searching for money for the rangers? And during the same period of time, what peculated up to the top of the list of priorities from the staffing perspective to try to save are the volunteer coordinators. So there happened to be a lessening of the priority for going out and finding the funds for environmental education and a heightened desire to find the funds for the volunteer coordinators.

I guess I -- DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: So it's safe to say our emphasis --

Well, tell me what happened. I mean, I have a great appreciation for a view and a vision of the future and things that you want to do. Now having the opportunity to look back, why did it not work out? I mean, what was not done or what could have been done or what should have been done in essence to make both of these programs function and operate? I mean, it seemed to me at the time -- I mean, I didn't accept the grant dollars. We, you 126 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 know, learned of them and we're glad that William Penn did what. But, I mean, it seemed to me that ultimately the funding for all of these positions were going at some point to transition to the City. And I guess I'm just trying to figure out what happened, or why did not that happen. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: I apologize for, I think, repeating myself. We decided that given our limited ability to get additional staff paid for by the City, we elected to put our emphasis on the volunteer coordinators. It was a policy decision to --

Okay, and then I'm going to repeat myself, because I thought you said you also did not ask for City funding for those positions; didn't you say that a little while ago? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yes, I did, yes.

Okay. And why was that? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: I -- I -- I -- based on my experience and our ability and what I thought would be our success for getting these positions funded by the City.

Okay. Tell me over 127 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 the last five years, when you've gone through the budget call process, tell me how much you requested in additional funding support for the Fairmount Park Commission, what you actually received, and what was denied. DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: I can't this morning or this afternoon give you those specific dollar amounts. We have -- and I know I've shared with you a request, and I'll get to my files, about a year and a half ago where we requested an additional $1.5 million that was almost exclusively staff and -- almost all staff and some support for additional overtime.

Let me ask this question then: Is there a present -- I'm under the impression that the budget call was actually pushed up a little earlier this year. Is your department or is the Recreation Department, are you presently in discussions about the compilation of next year's budget to be introduced in January? Is that process going on right now? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: I haven't been asked to submit an '03 budget at this particular time.

Commissioner Richard? 128 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 COMMISSIONER RICHARD: No, sir, not as of yet. As a matter of fact, as of yesterday, we just went through the first-quarter review, but we are looking at amending and resubmitting the five-year plan but not the upcoming budget process, not as of yet.

Have you been informed of what the schedule is for this year's budget call, which will lead to the composing of next year's budget to be introduced in January? Do you know when you're going in? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Not yet, sir.

Director Mifflin, are you anticipating putting in for additional dollars? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yes.

What would that amount be? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: I actually haven't formulated the additional amount, but I see no 21 reason to make a major change from the last request of $1.5 million.

So that's your expectation, to ask for in addition to what presently get, which we talked about earlier, which 129 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 is $13 million, you expect to ask for 1.5 million more? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: And, again, it's a little preliminary for me to discuss specific numbers at this time.

If you got the million and a half dollars, what would you do with it? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: I actually have a specific breakdown of where those particular dollars would go. A combination of staff, additional support in Class 100, which goes for seasonal employees, and some overtime, which we tend to need for special events. If you give me a minute, I'll try to search through my records.

Let me just ask you very quickly: Does it include the item that's been discussed or the three items that have been discussed the most today: Volunteer coordinators? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yes.

Rangers? DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: Yes.

And the environmental education people? 130 10/31/01 PARKS & REC. COMMITTEE - RES. 010518 DIRECTOR MIFFLIN: No. 3