Press Release

MAYOR NUTTER ANNOUNCES ALMOST $20M TO REINVIGORATE PARKWAY & NEIGHBORHOOD GREEN SPACE

For immediate release, July 17, 2008

Philadelphia, July 17 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced today that a total of $19.25 million will be invested in reinvigorating the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and in developing Hawthorne Park, a community green space at 12th and Catharine.

“A revitalized Parkway with new art, lighting, street improvements and enhanced green spaces will be a huge asset for both Philadelphians and visitors to our city,” said Mayor Nutter. “Today we are also demonstrating our commitment to community development with the announcement of funding and a development plan for Hawthorne Park at 12th and Catharine, a neighborhood green space that will now move forward after years of planning and consultation.  I would particularly like to thank our many foundation and community partners for their determination and commitment to these two projects.”

Improvements to the Parkway include:

Transforming Sister Cities Plaza into a new green space, with trees, plants, and we will be replacing the paved area with grass, paths, benches, lightings and new sidewalks.

Improving the sidewalks, installi ng new benches, trash receptacles, and plantings along four blocks of the Parkway to improve the pedestrian experience.

Creating new bicycle lanes and realigning the traffic lanes to help with the movement of traffic.
Enhancing the Rodin Museum garden.

The Horticultural Society, the Center City District and the Fairmount Park Commission will work in partnership to maintain the Parkway and its improvements after the work is complete.

Hawthorne Park at 12th and Catharine will be a new neighborhood project developed according to a plan produced by Philadelphia Horticultural Society in conjunction with residents from the community.  The new park will provide much needed green space for the neighborhood and will include park benches, tress, paths and a lawn area.

These projects will be funded by a new partnership between the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the William Penn Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts and the Knight Foundation.  The City will provide $6.4 million out of a total of $17.1 million for Parkway improvements, with $6.45 million from the Commonwealth, $2 million from Pew Charitable Trusts, $1.25 million from the Knight Foundation and $1 million from the William Penn Foundation.  For Hawthorne Park Councilman DiCicco has contributed $250,000 from his capital budget, together with $1.1 million from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, $300,000 from Representative Babette Josephs, $250,000.

Mayor Nutter made these announcements at two consecutive press conferences at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and at Hawthorne Park.  He was joined by:

Parkway: Governor Edward G. Rendell, Mark Focht (Fairmount Park), Don Kimelman (Pew), Paul Levy (Parkway Council), Blaine Bonham (Pennsylvania Horticultural Society), and Gail Harrity (Art Museum).

Hawthorne Park: Secretary Michael DiBerardinis (DCNR), Mark Focht (Fairmount Park), Carl Greene (Philadelphia Housing Authority), State Representative Babette Josephs, Councilman Frank DiCicco, Don Kimelman (Pew) and Pat Bullard (Hawthorne Empowerment Coalition).

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