This plan is not a good one. Thank you very much. Thank you for taking the time. Next hand, please.
Chair, the next person is Sherelle Robinson. They have been unmuted and allowed to speak.
Could you state your name, please, and spell for the stenographer?
Hi, my name is Sherelle Robinson. His first name is spelled S as in Sam, H-E-R-E-L-L, last name R-O-B-I-N-S-O-N.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
I affirm.
Are you a neighbor?
Yes, the same zip code.
Could you, are you for or against this project?
For the project.
You've heard a couple of people prior to you.
Is there anything additional you'd want to offer?
I'll try my best.
Generally, I feel that adding the improvements to FDR Park would actually contribute to making Philadelphia more resilient
against what it is facing and what it could face. And that's regarding quality of life,
the climate issues health-wise. I think it could be a sort of park-based intervention
on health in Philadelphia, because one of the top two causes in Philly is in relation to
cardiovascular issues and the disparities in the communities that are nearby that use the parks
will be positively affected. I think it's effective land management, climate-wise,
addressing the groundwater flooding, creating recreation access will improve the chronic
illnesses or even mental health outcomes of locals who come, like myself and my two children,
one who's neurodiverse. And actually improving health outcomes could probably improve quality
of life issues and community discourse from increased stress. And economically, I think
that it would be viewed as an extra amenity. It could invite other visitors, which obviously
would make money for local businesses and also improve the outside view of the area,
which we kind of have a bad rep right now, especially South Philly. Respectfully, I think
that it's a bit irresponsible to see the issues that FDR Park has seen progressively over time
and not be proactive. I think that plans for public spaces have to be in favor
of improving and maintaining all life, not just animal and plant life, human life as well.
human life as well. And we can do that with increased recreation space. Like there has to
And we can do that with increased recreation space. There has to be
be a balance, a balanced consideration of all inhabitants of the space, not just plant and
animal life in the space. And I think that the plan does that by keeping two thirds of the space
green. And but the but nature has to share. We have to inhabit the park as well. So one third
of the recreational space will help at least the 100 over 100,000 locals in the south part of
Philadelphia. And I think that lastly, just as we have to, sometimes we have to shed a historic tie
in order to make way for a better serving future. So just as we have to shed baby teeth to make room
for better serving teeth, so it'll help us take in more nourishment, I think FDR Park has to do
that and share. And I think disallowing the new bill could actually continue the confinement of
us into spaces that are hazardous, not functional, or spaces
that just don't support recreation. And that's not fair to us
who've been here our whole lives. Thank you very much for taking
the time to call us. We appreciate it. Next hand, please.
Next hand, Chair, is Fred Stein. They have been
unmuted. How many more hands do you see?
After Mr. Stein, we have 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
Looks like 11 more heads after Mr. Stein's here.
Sir, could you please state your name and spell for the court's
phonographer?
It's Fred Stein, F-R-E-D-S-T-I-N-E.
I'm with the Delaware.
Go ahead.
Go ahead.
You go first.
Go ahead.
I was just launching right in, but I should swear in.
All right.
Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Are you a neighbor?
Are you a neighbor?
I am not.
No, I am not.
I work with an environmental organization, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network.
I do serve on a board in the community, the East with the neighbors.
Are you in favor of this project or against?
I'm against.
And you've heard a lot of testimony prior.
Is there anything additional you can offer?
Yes, I think I do.
So we've heard a lot of information about the environmental impact about building floodplains,
cutting down trees, and how that will impact flooding and stormwater runoff.
Much of my presentation was going to echo that, but to respect everyone's time,
I would only recommend that or add to that that many government agencies, universities, and entities throughout the region and the world agree with that.
In order to prepare for climate change and to create a sustainable green city, you have to maintain the natural environment.
And that comes from a Philadelphia city report called Growing Stronger Toward a Climate-Ready Philadelphia. They talk strongly about protecting open space and the natural environment.
And that's echoed by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission in their cost effects of climate change in southeast Pennsylvania.
They reiterate that, and I could submit this written comment so these quotes from these entities are on the record.
Drexel University has put together a large consortium, including the city, and have come up with the same conclusion.
So it's not just coming from an environmental community perspective, but agencies and universities that are committed to protecting the public safety and health of the city are all in favor of protecting these trees and the hundreds and hundreds of more smaller ones that don't get the classification as heritage trees.
and all the hundreds of acres that will be lost by putting artificial turf down.
Cutting down the trees is not a sustainable practice.
Filling wetlands and natural meadows is not a sustainable practice.
Covering open space with artificial turf is not a sustainable practice.
FDR Park is already essentially a bathtub with elevated perimeters around Patterson Avenue, Broad Street, the enclaves and 95.
The Conservancy's plan will be filling, bringing in acre or many, many tons of earth to build these sports fields to take up space within that bathtub that's going to displace the water.
to take up space within that bathtub that's going to displace the water.
I would only want to, my final point would be is the youth of Philadelphia definitely need outdoor
recreational open space. The natural open space on the west side of the park can and does provide
that. There's no arguing that organized sports can benefit thousands of youth, but city residents
should not be forced to choose between natural open space that enhances their quality of life
and recreating on plastic surfaces that science has shown can cause its own health problems.
Thank you very much. Thank you for taking the time. Next hand, please.
Here we have Cameron Powell. They have been unmuted and allowed to speak.
Hi, could you please state your name and spell for the court stenographer?
Hi, this is Cameron Powell, C-A-M-E-R-O-N-P-O-W-E-L-L.
Right. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?
Are you a neighbor?
Are you in favor of this project or against?
I'm against.
Okay. We've had a lot of testimony. Is there anything different that you could add?
First of all, just to say that it's dumb, right?
I mean, I would hope you could just give us more than it's dumb.
Well, I would if you'd allow me to keep speaking.
So it's dumb to say, hmm, we already have an entire portion of our lovely city
dedicated to sports arenas, Wells Fargo Center, the link, et cetera.
But we choose to demolish.
Now, I don't know anybody on the zoning board personally, but it seems that you folks must not be from Philadelphia because you would know that FDR Park is a local treasure.
Nothing like it in all the city.
And you choose to demolish and destroy this green space.
The zoning board doesn't do that.
The zoning board doesn't do that.
We're listening for testimony as to why you don't think it should.
the tree well it's a surprise to me because you guys aren't advocating against it once again
we're here on both sides that's what we're here for to hear both sides sir okay well no not okay
that's where we are we're here about one thing about the trees and that's okay it's about the
trees it it should be self-evident that there are better alternatives for this thing to happen
it's like
when you folks that get put
in these positions of power
you're against the project
thank you very much
next hand
Chair we have Judy Stepanowski
she's been unmuted
and allowed to speak
Hi could you state your name please
and spell for the court stenographer
do we see her hand yes miss stepanowski could you please unmute yourself
okay hi hi could you please state your name and spell for the court stenographer
judith stepanowski s-t-e-p as in paul e-n-a-s-k-i-e you swear or firm to tell the truth
the whole truth and nothing but the truth yes i do um are you a neighbor no i'm not
okay uh are you for this project or against the project opposed okay is there anything
additional than what we've already heard yes yes okay i'm i am a city resident and i've used
the park many times okay i'm a birder and one of the things fairmount park i mean fdr park is
one of the top three philadelphia birding areas based on the number of recorded species
228 species have been recorded in the park, many of them migratory with limited options for places to rest and feed in the area.
There's also a great number of breeding birds in the park.
Mature trees are extremely important to breeding and migratory birds.
And the biggest reason for the loss in bird life, we've had over 3 million birds lost in the U.S. since 1970.
The biggest reason is loss of habitat.
And these trees in FDR Park provide valuable bird habitat.
at the city of Philadelphia in.
The city of Philadelphia in 2002 signed on to the Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds.
This is a treaty with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the city of Philadelphia was the third city in the country to sign on to this treaty.
and by doing this there they said they would make a strong commitment to migratory bird conservation
um the treaty is dedicated to conserving birds in or passing through our cities through a variety
of means meaning habitat conservation primarily but also education um conservation and working
to conserve, protect, and restore and enhance the tree habitat. Philadelphia is positioned
along the Atlantic Flyway at the intersection of numerous migration routes, making it a
particularly important city in terms of the vast number of migrants passing through and
the need to ensure the availability of habitat where birds can quickly restore depleted energy
resources.
In 2009, the city made a renewal commitment to the Urban Bird Conservation Treaty, and
the city received a $70,000 grant funding as part of their commitment to restore, conserve,
and protect valuable bird habitat within Philadelphia.
um let's see um the taking of the mature trees is is totally contrary to philadelphia's role
and and as a signer of this treaty um mature trees are critical for supporting birds they
cannot simply be replaced by planting younger trees mature trees are also important in
fighting climate change. A tree takes about 30 years until it reaches maturity, at which point
it absorbs the most carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Trees absorb about 40 percent of
the human-produced carbon dioxide from our atmosphere. By replacing mature trees with
smaller trees, they cannot compare in any way to the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the
mature trees. Mature trees also provide shade and cooling of the local environment.
South Philadelphia with the sports complex, which actually used to be, I've just recently learned,
the sports complex was part of FDR Park initially, and that was taken to develop
the sports stadiums.
South Philadelphia is
totally, almost
totally built
space, blacktop,
particularly with the sports stadiums
and the many parking lots nearby.
These contribute to
warming of the environment.
By taking
the trees, they are
going to be
reducing the cooling of the environment.
In particular with turf fields, it makes it even worse.
Turf fields are 30 to 55 degrees warmer than natural gas fields.
Thank you.
So obviously you gave us a lot of information.
We appreciate your call and appreciate the interest you have in this.