Authorizing City Council's Committee on the Environment and the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs to hold joint public hearings to examine the conditions, maintenance policies and irrigation methods used to maintain functional and safe outdoor athletic fields City-wide and to also explore the option of working with area agricultural colleges to help accomplish this initiative.

WHEREAS, The Fairmount Park Commission manages over 175 athletic fields including cricket, soccer, baseball and softball, rugby and football; and

WHEREAS, The Recreation Department manages over 100 athletic fields; and

WHEREAS, The School District of Philadelphia currently manages approximately 160 athletic fields that are used for school sports and are available for short-term leases; and

WHEREAS, Every year, thousands of applications are submitted for seasonal or one-time usage of outdoor athletic fields for league sports, intramural games, school teams, tournaments and leisurely ball games; and

WHEREAS, Due to lack of equipment, staff and finances, only a small portion of athletic fields are able to be reconditioned annually, resulting in many athletic fields to be left in poor condition for great lengths of time; and

WHEREAS, In efforts to reduce costs and improve field conditions, the School District of Philadelphia, Fairmount Park and the Recreation Department can purchase supplies and jointly pay for maintenance crews to properly upkeep these fields; and

WHEREAS, Area agricultural colleges can also be contacted to provide maintenance services to these fields as a hands-on learning opportunity for their students to improve the quality of city neighborhoods; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That authority be given to the Committee on the Environment and the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs to hold joint public hearings to examine the conditions, maintenance policies and irrigation methods used to maintain functional and safe outdoor athletic fields city-wide and to also explore the option of working with area agricultural colleges to help accomplish this initiative.

End