Unique Public/Private Partnership Improves Clark Park
Unique Public/Private Partnership Improves University City’s Largest Public Park Despite Continuing City-Wide Budget Cuts
University City District and Friends of Clark Park Raised a total of $330,000 to Support Park Maintenance
Contact: Lori Klein Brennan at 215 243 0555 x 227 or lori@ucityphila.org
For Immediate Release
May 19, 2004
(Philadelphia, PA) – Philadelphia’s parks are an important component of quality of life in Philadelphia. Healthy vibrant parks encourage economic vitality, tourism, community development and reinvestment, education, and recreation. Urban parks and open space are an essential component of any first class city and region.
Historically, Philadelphia’s city parks have been drastically under-funded. The budget has been in a constant state of decline resulting in serious deferred maintenance. Amid this difficult environment for city parks, University City District (UCD), Friends of Clark Park, and the Department of Parks and Recreation have created a unique public/private partnership allowing Clark Park, a heavily used 9-acre park to thrive.
Clark Park, a triangle between 43rd and 45th streets from Baltimore to Woodland avenues has the largest number of special event permits in the City pf Philadelphia’s Department of Recreation system. The Park is home to the seasonal Clark Park Farmers Market, many music festivals, youth soccer, and other neighborhood events. It is located in the heart of University City’s Streetcar Suburb National Register Historic District and serves a racially and socio-economically diverse population of residents, students, University City employees and visitors.
The agreement among University City District, Friends of Clark Park and the City is unique. With such frequent use, Park maintenance is a constant issue. Since 1973, Friends of Clark Park, a volunteer organization, held cleaning and planting days to help the City maintain the green space. In 1999, Friends and UCD approached the City Recreation Department with a formal proposal to raise funds for professional landscape maintenance services through an annual event. Since 2000, the Party for the Park (held the first Thursday in May) brings together residents, volunteers, corporate and institutional sponsors and City representatives to raise funds to support supplemental maintenance of the park, including spring and fall clean-ups, mowing grass, removing trash and graffiti, weeding and mulching. University City District has been under contract with the City to hire and mange a professional landscape firm to maintain this public park.
Victor N. Richard III, Commissioner of the Department of Recreation says, “The success of the Clark Park project can be largely attributed to the collaborative effort with support from the Department of Recreation, leadership from Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, community support from Friends of Clark Park and of course the dedicated service and commitment of University City District. We are happy to work with UCD as they have been great partners to us on this project and the tremendous improvements to Clark Park would not have been possible without them.”
On May 6, 2004, the 5th annual Party for the Park exceeded its goal and raised over $60,000, including a $20,000 matching grant from the Drumcliff Foundation and a silent auction that brought in over $4,000. This brings the total amount raised through these parties to over $330,000.
But Clark Park requires more than mowing, pruning, edging, and cleaning. To this end, the UCD and Friends submitted a request to The William Penn Foundation for funds to develop a Master Plan for the Park. In 2000, the Foundation awarded the groups $55,000. The grant provided the resources required to bring together community stakeholders and a professional design firm to create a long-term revitalization plan and capital strategy to ensure Clark Park's future. A community-based steering committee comprised of representatives of UCD, Friends, Recreation Department, area civic organizations, and elected officials met to ensure that the neighborhood's needs and desires were paramount in the planning process. Following six public meetings, the Revitalization Plan was adopted by the Friends of Clark Park board in July 2001.
“We are extremely pleased with this unique partnership, says Eric T. Goldstein, Executive Director for University City District. This is a win-win situation for everyone and most importantly, the University City community benefits from the continuous improvements to the Park.”
Since the plan was adopted, and with the help of the Department of Recreation, playground improvements were made a top priority for the Park. Two playgrounds – one for children ages 5-12, and another for tots – were made possible by the contributions of private citizens, 3rd District Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, Friends of Clark Park and University City District.
In addition, the Clark Park Party for the Park fundraising committee has created a long-term endowment for the Park that has grown to over $60,000 in two year. This Clark Park Endowment Fund is administered through the Philadelphia Foundation for ongoing maintenance of the Park. Other new improvements include new Victorian entrance signs to the Park that are visible from the street, creating a brand for the Park as well as a more welcoming environment for park users.
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University City District builds effective partnerships to maintain a clean and safe environment and to promote, plan and advocate for University City’s diverse, urban community.
University City is the region’s leading community for technology, research, higher education and health care integrated with historic and desirable residential neighborhoods, vibrant commercial and cultural attractions, and strong transportation connections.
Release Date: Wednesday, May 19th 2004
