The Fairmount Park Conservancy recently announced it has received a $10 million grant from the William Penn Foundation to support the implementation of the $250 million plan to dramatically transform FDR Park in Philadelphia.

With this grant, the Conservancy has officially passed the $100 million mark for FDR Park, and only four years after the initial release of 2019’s FDR Park Plan.

“Community members laid out a clear vision to build a future-proof, flood-resistant FDR Park that serves the needs of South Philadelphia youth and families, and we are committed to realizing that vision,” said Maura McCarthy, Ph.D., CEO of Fairmount Park Conservancy. “Every day, park users — from youth sports leagues to hikers and naturalists to vendors at the world-class Southeast Asian Market — bring this historic patch of South Philadelphia to life. We’re proud to help lift up FDR’s long-term ecological and recreational value, and are committed to ensuring that the park remains equitable and accessible for all who want to take advantage of its hundreds of acres of green space and natural assets.”

With the support of this grant, Fairmount Park Conservancy will be well positioned to complete the Nature Phase of the FDR Park Plan, including Shedbrook Creek, the Sedge Meadow Wetland, Wildflower Meadow, and the Forested Wetland.

These projects will prepare the park to respond to the challenges of climate change — not just in the future, but right now, as rain currently causes flooding in the park, rendering many of its spaces unusable.

In addition, the plan addresses the overwhelming unmet need to balance active and passive recreation space in South Philadelphia.

The Conservancy is the nonprofit partner leading implementation of the FDR Park Plan.

“FDR Park has been a place to gather and experience nature and recreation for over 100 years, but because of ecological and environmental issues, sections of the park become unusable even after a modest or mild storm,” explained Shawn McCaney, Executive Director of the William Penn Foundation. “WPF’s $10 million investment in FDR Park’s natural areas will help mitigate these issues by establishing 100 acres of accessible natural lands that community members can utilize and enjoy for years to come.”

The William Penn Foundation’s $10 million grant was leveraged with public and private investment and community support, and brings the FDR Park Plan’s fundraising total to $100 million.

Through 2026, FDR Park’s users will see the following unveiled:

-- Completing the design and engineering work of the Nature Phase of the FDR Park Plan.

-- Restoration of Shedbrook Creek, the Forested Wetland, and the Sedge Meadow Wetland, a project that will establish unfragmented high-quality wetlands, and restore thousands of linear feet of streams.

-- Continued community engagement and public information updates about the FDR Park Plan.

-- Expanding the quality and quantity of environmental education programming available to the public at FDR Park.

-- Hiring a Parkforce Manager responsible for connecting the vast maintenance requirements of a large urban park with existing workforce development opportunities.

-- Establishing an operations and maintenance headquarters on-site.

-- Developing an annual park maintenance program to provide critical support for the improvements implemented through the FDR Park Plan.

“Thanks to this tremendous commitment of support from the William Penn Foundation, FDR Park will be able to serve so many more Philadelphians for many years into the future,” said Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell. “FDR Park is a jewel of the Philadelphia parks system, and thanks to the vision put forward through this community-based planning process, FDR is poised to be a model for environmental restoration that is well used and well loved by a diverse cross section of Philadelphians.”

Fairmount Park Conservancy hosts hikes, kayak tours, volunteer opportunities, scavenger hunts and more year-round at FDR Park. Click Here for a list of events at FDR.

NewsClip:

-- Inquirer: $100 Million Raised For FDR Park Redevelopment; About $150 Million To Go

[Posted: May 31, 2023]

6/5/2023