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Report on FPP's Mayoral Forum
By "friends@philaparks" <friends@philaparks.org>
Friday, 10/31/03
(1067688940136)
>From Friends of Philadelphia Parks:
soon to be Philadelphia Parks Alliance
On October 20th, Friends of Philadelphia Parks held a Mayoral Forum on Parks at the Free Library at Logan Square. Over 400 people representing more than 65 different park and neighborhood groups, civic organizations, universities, businesses, government agencies, and schools came out to hear what mayoral candidates John Street and Sam Katz will do for Philadelphia's park system if elected Mayor. The event was widely covered by the media including KYW 3, WPVI TV 6, NBC 10, Fox News, KYW News Radio, WHYY, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Philadelphia Daily News, The Metro, the Associated Press, and The New Observer. The candidates appeared at the Forum separately and were asked somewhat different questions. Below are some of the statements they made:
John Street:
- Implementation Fairmount Park Strategic Plan: The city will put up its share to fund the plan. Will sit down with Fairmount Park Commission and figure out what it will cost to fund the implementation. Will go from the Plan to the Budget, not the Budget to the Plan. Will circulate the first draft of the plan to City Planning Commission, City Council, and everyone who gave input. Maybe will have hearings.
- Park Funding: Will not commit to increase budget of Fairmount Park to 1% of city budget. Doesn’t like the idea of putting funds generated in parks back into parks; every taxpayer should fund parks. Put money into General Fund and have that fund parks. “The fate of the parks rests with the public. The day people of the city get their political back up about parks, will fund the parks.”
- Park Safety: Will make the parks as safe as he reasonably can. Will not commit to more police presence in parks. Safety component should be in strategic plan and should be reviewed by police commissioner and other law enforcement authorities. Should be safe zones in park, e.g. should be able to run on Parkway until 700 or 8:00 pm; can’t police 9,000 acres. Maybe will decide need more Rangers or Town Watch for parks.
Sam Katz:
-Fairmount Park Strategic Plan: The plan should be integrated with other city departments. Has developed a strategy for appointing Deputy Mayors of parks, cultural affairs, etc., so that one person can oversee Fairmount Park and The Department of Recreation.
-Park Funding: Commits to restoring Fairmount Park budget to 1% of city budget. Would like parks to have their own internally generated income, e.g. judicious use of park for concerts, events, food, and beverage with income retained by park system. In addition to Please Touch Museum, have to find way to renovate other park buildings. Maximize extent to which dollars spent by city leverage dollars spent by state and federal government. Will make sure there is a grant writer for any conceivable grants. Recreation Department is equally in need of help; integrating it with Fairmount Park would do damage. Will not create a 1% tax on all sporting tickets for parks. Transit needs funding; doesn’t want to pit parks against SEPTA.
-Park Safety: Commits to putting more police in park with understanding that he needs to examine data from Police Department. Wants to create Park Watch similar to Citizen Watch; put in cell towers that are not environmentally disrespectful; and put more police on horseback.
On the day of the Forum, The Philadelphia Inquirer Commentary Page ran an op-ed piece by Friends of Philadelphia Parks' Executive Director Lauren Bornfriend:
"If we believe that urban parks are an essential component of any first-class city -- that they generate economic vitality, community development, education and self-expression; that they contribute to the health, fitness, peace and beauty--then we have the opportunity and obligation to tell it to the candidates for Mayor and City Council."
The article entitled "Who will Stand up for Philadelphia's Park System?" can be read in full at www.philaparks.org.
We thank so many of you for attending the forum and in doing so contributing to the growing parks movement throughout this city and country. The momentum of our work continues to build, and we will use it as we prepare for the city's budget hearings this winter and move into the future.
Friends of Philadelphia Parks
Office: 215.879.8159
Fax: 215.879.8833
Email: friends@philaparks.org