Councilmember Anthony Phillips introduced a resolution “authorizing the Philadelphia City Council Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs to hold public hearings on the condition of the City’s public park system, including funding, maintenance, infrastructure, staffing, safety, and opportunities to establish sustainable long-term revenue streams to support Philadelphia’s parks, recreation centers, and public green spaces.”
According to the resolution, the City of Philadelphia “manages one of the largest and oldest urban park systems in the United States, overseeing approximately 11,516 acres of parkland.” This includes city spaces such as recreation centers and pools. The benefits to operating these community spaces are manifold; as maintains these spaces contribute to the city’s fight against climate change, and serve as community centers that provide recreation options to Philadelphia’s youth.
Regarding the amount of funding the city does provide, Philadelphia lags behind peer cities, spending about $112 per citizen. Information provided by Phillips office shows that Baltimore spends about $155 per citizen, and Pittsburgh and Cincinnati spend $176 and $239, respectively.
Jones Calls for Senior Housing Emergency Plans
Councilmember Curtis Jones introduced a bill creating “security and emergency preparedness requirements for senior housing facilities.” The law defines senior housing facilities as any residential building, apartment complex, or independent living facility containing ten or more dwelling units where at least 80% of the units are occupied or meant to be occupied by people 62 years of age or older…