Calling upon the Mayor to appoint a Parks and Recreation Funding Task Force.

WHEREAS, City Council has been deliberating the management structure of Fairmount Park and the Department of Recreation since 2004; and

WHEREAS, During these deliberations there has been the inescapable fact that funding needs to be a part of the discussion and part of the solution for the future or our parks and recreation facilities; and

WHEREAS, While funding for parks and recreation by the City is substantial in terms of dollars, Fairmount Park and the Department of Recreation can clearly be vastly improved with an influx of new revenue streams; and

WHEREAS, Entities such as the William Penn Foundation and the Fairmount Park Conservancy have been extremely generous with their giving and fundraising however there is still a need to discern greater resources for the parks; and

WHEREAS, The Fairmount Park Strategic Plan offers some recommendations for further funding which need to be explored in depth; and

WHEREAS, With a collaborative civic effort, there is a firm belief by this Council that realistic additional and non-traditional funding can be found for the parks and recreation facilities in this City; and

WHEREAS, There are a number of individuals and groups in the private, non-profit, corporate and public sectors that have expressed an interest in exploring new methods of funding and financing to increase resources for park and recreation facilities; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That this legislative body urges the Mayor to create a

Parks and Recreation Funding Task Force, consisting of representatives of parks advocacy organizations, recreation advocacy organizations, community members, budget, finance and public policy experts, Fairmount Park, City Council and the Administration to develop and advise the City regarding potential new funding streams sources that can be used to better fund parks and recreation in the City of Philadelphia

; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk shall forward a copy of this Resolution to the Mayor for his consideration.

End