4th Annual Party for the Park Collects $59,020
Philadelphia, PA 12 May, 2003 -- A beautiful May Day in University City provided the backdrop for the 4th annual Party for the Park, a fundraiser benefiting all users of Clark Park located at 43rd and Baltimore Avenue. Guests moved to the sounds of The After Dinner Mints, enjoyed performances from Spiral Q Puppet Theater and Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers Company, and munched on hors d’oeuvres from Inn at Penn. This year, over $60,000 was collected in sponsorships and ticket sales, including a $20,000 matching grant from The Drumcliff Foundation and a silent auction that netted over $2,800. Funds raised at the Party are used for supplemental maintenance of this historic, 9-acre park including spring and fall cleanups, turf maintenance, weeding, and mulching.
For the past four years, University City District (UCD), the City of Philadelphia Department of Recreation, and Friends of Clark Park have collaborated in a unique public/private partnership to comprehensively improve Clark Park, one of Philadelphia’s largest and most actively used parks. The agreement is unique. UCD, a private non-profit, is under contract with the City to hire and manage a professional landscape firm for this public park. Enhancement of the public environment in University City is a building block of the UCD mission, and renewal of the Park is a continuation of the sidewalk cleaning and public space improvement services it already provides in University City.
The partners thank sponsors Academic Properties, Inc., AP Construction, Inc., ARAMARK, Campus Apartments, Campus Technologies, Inc., The Drumcliff Foundation, The Inn at Penn, Royalty Press, Skanska USA Building, Inc., University City District, University of Pennsylvania, and University of the Sciences in Philadelphia for helping to ensure that Clark Park remains a welcoming and attractive amenity for University City’s 47,000 residents, 37,000 students, and 59,000 employees.
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. UCD’s programs to improve streetscapes, and parks, remove trash and graffiti, provide technical assistance to home- and business owners, increase public safety, and publicize University City’s advantages have improved the quality of life since 1997. For more information about UCD, call 215 243 0555 or visit www.UCityphila.org
Release Date: Monday, May 12th 2003
