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> 06/12/2002 A Visit to Park Headquarters (Ed Goppelt)
06/12/2002 A Visit to Park Headquarters (Ed Goppelt)
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Main Entrance, Memorial Hall
2002/06/12 Memorial Hall is about the size of a city block.
Park Headquarters, along with a Recreation Center and a Police District are all housed in this enormous building.
It is one of two buildings that survive from the 1876 Centennial.
The "Main Entrance" leads to a large empty hall
containing 3 locked public bathrooms and two pay telephones.
To reach
Park Headquarters
you must use a different entrance.
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Kelly Pool, Locked & Unavailable for Public Use
2002/06/12 FP Chief of Staff Barry Bessler led me to believe that
the pool was not open because of the drought. Mr. Bessler
turned out to be misinformed. According to the responsible manager
at the Commission, FPC was unable to hire sufficient life guards
because of a shortage of lifeguards who could pass
a drug test. The new testing policy follows
a drowning last year in which the life guards on duty were using drugs.
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Recreation Center
2002/06/12
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Back Entrance, Memorial Hall
2002/06/12 Although this entrance leads into the same
hall as the main entrance, a Fairmount Park employee
exiting through here claimed this was the "Employee Entrance" and would not let me use this door.
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Entrance to Park Headquarters
2002/06/12 Memorial Hall is huge and signage directing visitors where to go is minimal.
I spent a good 10-15 minutes walking from entrance to entrance
till I finally found the Park Administrative Offices.
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"Employees Only: No Unauthorized Personnel Beyond this Point"
2002/06/12 Would this sign make you feel welcome?
Mr. Bessler claims the intent here is not to shoo people away, but to ensure that people use the proper
entrance. If this is the case, why not put up a map and/or directions
to the correct entrance?
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One of Three Locked Public Bathrooms in the Main Hall
2002/06/12
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No Relief for the Public Here!
2002/06/12
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Restroom Signage
2002/06/12
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Public Amenities at Memorial Hall
2002/06/12 Public amenities at Memorial Hall include the following:
- 3 Locked Public Bathrooms
- 2 Payphones
- 1 Outdoor Water fountain
- 1 Swimming Pool
- Abundant parking
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No Public Restrooms at Park Headquarters?
2002/06/12 Mr. Bessler claimed there were
public restrooms, but this sign clearly states
otherwise. After some back and forth, Mr. Bessler
promised to take the sign down. As of July 7,
the sign remains up.
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Reception Area, Park HQ
2002/06/12
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Fairmount Park Brass
2002/06/12
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The Executive Suite
2002/06/12 Mr. Bessler chewed me out for taking pictures of
this door to Executive Director Bill Mifflin's office.
He said employees behind this door were disturbed by the flash.
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"Staff Only": Sign on Door leading to Staff Offices
2002/06/12 For an organization which is supposed to serve the recreational needs of Philadelphians,
there seemed to be an awful lot of signs
telling the public to keep out.
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Calendar of Events
2002/06/12 Employees at Park HQ can consult this handy blackboard
to find out what's going on in the Park.
Why isn't all this information posted
on the Commission's web site where members of the public
can see it, too?
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Main Entrance at 4 PM: Closed for the Day
2002/06/12
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A Public Amenity
2002/06/12
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