New parks and recreation commissioners
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
By: Susan Phillips
sphillips@whyy.org
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter is expected to announce the members of the new Commission on Parks and Recreation Thursday.
The new panel replaces the former Fairmount Park Commission, which was dissolved after voters approved a merger between Fairmount Park and the City's Recreation department last November.
Listen:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The move is the final step in changing how Fairmount Park was governed for the past 140 years. Responsibility for the Park now lies directly with the mayor, who appoints nine commissioners.
They will serve as advisors to the department on topics such as horticulture, architecture and land use management.
Some advocates of Fairmount Park worry that it will be subsumed by the Recreation Department, or that the land could be leased or sold. But Mayor Nutter says those fears are baseless.
Nutter: I'm a strong advocate for the park system, I'm a strong advocate for the recreation department, neither will overwhelm the other, its a combined department and it will provide heightened services for the city and the region.
Almost 200 people applied for spots on the Commission.