Fall 2007

Brian Siano, Editor Jonathan Snyder, Publisher PO Box 31908, , PA 19104 Telephone 215-552-8186 Website: http://www.clarkpark.info Bulletin Board: http://www.clarkpark.blogspot.com Email: [email protected] Calendar of Events FoCP Leaders Oppose SEPTA’s (lack of) Plan See http://www.clarkpark.info for additional By Matt Grubel events and date or time changes. On September 18th, SEPTA conducted a community meeting at USP to explain Saturday, Oct. 6th: Bark in the their impending project to replace the trolley track along Chester Ave. from Woodland Park to 49th Street. It became apparent that SEPTA’s plan did not consider many important 2 pm issues. One of those issues Wednesday Oct 17th: General is the failed storm water Membership Meeting system under Chester Ave 7 pm Griffith Hall, USP, 43rd and King- between 43rd and 45th sessing streets. Saturday, Oct. 20th. Spiral Q At first SEPTA repre- Peoplehood Parade sentatives denied having 1 pm, starts at Paul Robeson House knowledge of this specific Saturday, Nov. 10th: Veterans’ condition, but later back- Day Ceremony pedaled on this point. (In 11 am fact, for at least the past Sunday Dec. 9th: Christmas year, it has primarily been Caroling in Clark Park SEPTA personnel who try 5 pm to clear these particular sewer inlets.) However, community members pointed out that cleaning clearly doesn’t work, and that a more fundamental problem needs to be resolved. Another attendee pointed out that it made no sense to build a road bed for track if it is going to be attacked by water from flooding or some failure below the surface. (continued) General Membership Meeting October 17 The Friends of Clark Park will be holding a General Membership Meeting on Oc- tober 17th, at 7 p.m., at USP’s Griffith Hall. This is an extremely important meeting for many reasons. It’s our Election meet- ing, so you can vote for the people who’ll be guiding the FoCP for the next two years… or, if you’d like, you can step right up and run for a board position or office yourself. Historically, our October meetings have been well attended, as they are a good time to evaluate the park right after the summer season. This has been one of our busiest seasons. We’ve had the Uhuru Flea Markets for six months. We’ve had Shake- speare in the Bowl. There’s the Park A renovation, the basketball court renovation, SEPTA’s plans for Chester Ave., and our evaluations of the park’s major events and maintenance issues. So you can see why this particular meeting is so important. We need to give you a comprehensive State of the Park report, and we want more of our neighbors to come out and get involved in our park’s future. Of course it goes without saying that if pose these there is undermining, eventually there aspects of the will be a collapse. However the guar- project. How- anteed problem for the Park is that by ever this also ignoring it, the Park will continue to be could be an flooded. oppor tunity The other concern is that no prepa- to finally ad- rations were made to control erosion dress both the during construction of this section of stormwater is- Chester. Being the lowest point of the sues and the road, overflowing rain water will carry connections soil and other material from the torn between Park up road into the park, particularly the A and Park B. ‘bowl’. Without control measures, soil, Between A tives to get all parties to the table. Both gravel, debris and silts could be left and B Park there are a couple of mid- Rep. Jim Roebuck and Councilwoman throughout the park, and clog the inlet block crossing points that are heav- Jannie Blackwell were present at the in the ‘bowl’. ily used. Anything we can do to make Community Meeting. They have both In the days following the meeting, them better and safer will be a boon to expressed interest in making the best of there was consensus amongst the FoCP the Park and the community. So we are the situation and we have been follow- Board to let officials know that we op- working with our elected representa- ing up with them.

Rupp, Karen Lefkowitz, Chris Pow- A Soggy Soccer Check-in Day goes off ers, Sola Fateye, Una O’Doherty, Katy Healey, Saida Azdod, Yaser Aiq, Merrill without a hitch Clampet-Lundquist, Matt Rumain, Jon By Jim Cummings Hoffman, Gabriel Farrell, Mike Zhuraw, The first day for fall Clark Park Soc- can play that day. Brian Yachyshen, John Hansen, Lewis cer was a half a week ago. Despite early Thanks to the following for help Mellman, Casey Buckley, Kodjovi “In- morning rain and canceled organized on check-in day: Shawn Bervan, El- nocent” Adoboe, Abdul-Rahim Malik, play, there was a good turnout for regis- vin Ross, Paul Brooks, Susan Meeker, Chakir Bouchaib, Irving Drake. Substi- tration and spirits were high - later in the Bill Jenkins, Steve Culbertson, Elaine tute Coaches: Catherine Darin, Timothy morning, after the rain broke up, there Jenson, Rick Tullio, Monique Warren, Collman, Anthony Ukaha, Susy Jones, were are least a dozen young people Benjamin Harrell, Molly Sarbaugh, Abdelaziz Akabouche, Jason Caston- playing soccer. Spaces for the young- Kathleen Turner, Nadel Harvey, Marvin quay, and Matt Leatherman. est players are waitlisted, but there are Curry, Hilary, Melanie, Mike Jones, and Thanks to Mecky Kouassi for help on places available for older players. Call Jim Cummings. picnic day. Thanks to Mariposa Co-op the voice mail: 215-552-8186 for more We never got a chance to thank that for the donation of fresh fruit for the pic- information. volunteers that made the spring sea- nic. Thanks to Abbraccio for their sup- Registration day procedures have son happen: Ed Sarbaugh, Molly, Kath- port on picnic day. improved over that past few years with leen Turner, Philip Jones, Conrad Jones, Thanks to Mike Jones for taking the the new administration team. There was Jim Cummings, Susan Meeker, Elaine lead on registration and to Phil Jones a time when you could walk in at 10 AM Jenson, Sonya Harrison, Noah Har- for his help with registration. on the first day day, be told to wait until rison, Samuel Harrison, Paul Brooks, Thanks to supporters Vivianne all the reregistered players had checked Anneliese Taylor, Saida Azdod, Denise Nachmias, Kathleen and Molly Turner, in and find two hours later that there Lewis, Victoria Bowman, and Brandon and always Paul Brooks. was no space for your child that season. Burr. Thanks to all who’ve helped, and Now people can walk in and find out And of course, our Spring Coach- spaces are still available for the Fall Sea- immediately if there is a space for their es: Trudy & Paul Johnson, Stanley son! child and, if there is a space, the child Stachelek, Lauren Kjos, Christopher

 Friends of Clark Park sign – we are planning for the next 100 North Park Redesign Awaits Architect’s Word years, after all – while keeping one eye by Tony West on the meter. Plans for the rebuilding of the dilapi- and University City District, FoCP did As of September, Leswing was cau- dated North Park (or “A” Park) between contribute monies toward it as well and tiously optimistic. “I feel we have estab- Baltimore and Chester Avenues are ap- Leswing, an urban planner for Lower lished a working relationship with SC,” proaching the end game. After a year Merion Twp., is equipped to handle de- he says. “I feel the dialog is moving in of public and private meetings, furious tailed discussions like these. The com- the right direction.” discussions and close studies, Simone munity had specific concerns about President Jonathan Snyder agreed. Collins, the landscape architecture firm pathway layout, plaza design and tree “After reviewing the latest drawings pre- that provided initial designs for the 2001 retention that the Planning Committee sented us by SC, we have expressed Revitalization Master Plan, has told us had sunk countless hours into creat- continuing concerns in some areas but they expect to have specific construc- ing guidance to help the designer on. we are satisfied to continue with the tion documents ready this fall. We’re thankful to report the Clark Park process,” he said. In March, there was a face-to-face Partnership backed FoCP to the hilt on The Rec Dept. threw a cheerful cher- meeting with Simone Collins to discuss these concerns (this Partnership is an rybomb into the planning process this the design principles and guidelines effort by the Horticultural spring when Parks Coordinator Bar- adopted by the Friends of Clark Park Society and includes the Pennsylvania bara McCabe announced the City of Board. FoCP’s Planning Committee Horticultural Society, UCD, the Rec- Philadelphia had dangled a potential sent our Vice President Chris Leswing reation Dept., Councilwoman Jannie $250,000 grant from the Pennsylvania as our best chance to work with Sim- Blackwell’s office, University of the Sci- Dept. of Conservation & Natural Re- one Collins’ head Pete Simone. Plan- ences, UCGreen and the Water Dept.). sources for park development – with a Com Chair Mathew Grubel explains, Money for planning is not infinite, matching $250,000 to come from the “We needed to hear what he was think- however, and this is not a case where City. That sounded fine to us! But the ing, and to give him an opportunity to we can just send the steak back to the details are not yet clear. question and understand what we are kitchen until the chef cooks it to our An important component may be asking of him.” taste, at no extra charge. Design work stormwater management for Baltimore rd Although the contract is between SC must promote careful and sensitive de- Ave. and 43 St., which in turn may require rebuilding of the streetside pe- riphery of the North Park, but nothing has been nailed down yet. There was some suggestion that there would be a rapid decision on this before Mayor John Street’s administration wraps up. “We’re putting together a response to the concept diagrams we got in Au- gust,” Grubel reports. “They will based on how close they come to the principles we outlined. However, what we really need answers to is this stormwater plan; what is it, whether it’s for the periphery or the interior, where it will go, and who is working on it.” That’s what SC is telling us also as we go to press. Look for concrete specs by year’s end – possibly even by the Oct. 17 Membership Meeting. Attend and find out! The View from the Mountaintop: the pile of dirt from the Basketball Court reconstruction gives us some fine perspective on the Park B playgrounds. Friends of Clark Park  HMS School Marks 125th Anniversary in University City HMS School for Children with Ce- rebral Palsy kicks off its 125th anniver- sary year this fall and plans a variety of celebration activities, including the outdoor Neighborhood Block Party in September that hosted the community to live music, refreshments and special children’s activities in the school’s back- yard. Neighborhood residents have prob- ably noticed a variety of changes at HMS, including colorful street banners sporting a new logo that expresses youth, spring growth, opportunity for development and the school’s park-like environment. Sounds of construction are also in the air as HMS expands and renovates its facilities to better serve students, ages five to 21, who have severe disabilities resulting from cerebral palsy. When the project is complete, the school will offer a friendlier, more accessible face to the neighborhood and will plant new trees along Baltimore Avenue. The first institution of its kind in the United States, HMS School was founded in 1882 as Home of the Merciful Saviour for Crippled Children. Through the de- cades, HMS adjusted successfully to the changing needs of its young residents. Today, the nonsectarian school provides specialized, state-of-the-art programs to accommodate both commuting and residential students. We invite you to get to know HMS. Please call us at 215-222-2566 to ar- range a visit.

 Friends of Clark Park July 21, 2007 ...was one of the busiest days ever. That morning, the Dickens Fellowship-- an international organiza- tion of enthusiasts-- paid a visit to our Dickens Statue. Notable among the attendees was actress Miriam Margolyes, known for her inter- pretations of Dickens’ works as well as memorable roles in The Age of Innocence, James and the Giant Peach, and (serendipitously, given the date) as Prof. Sprout in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. And that evening, the Philadelphia Orchestra, led by conductor Rossen Milanov, performed in the Bowl to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Univer- sity City District.

Friends of Clark Park  and the same. The treat- ment facility (at the inter- section of 42nd and 43rd Streets) keeps the sew- age out of the Schulykill River pretty well. Howev- er, during heavy storms, so much water comes through the systems, sometimes the treatment plant has to be bypassed to prevent massive flood- By September, the pit for the water retention system had been dug, lined, and filled with stones. ing. Completion of the Oysters, Ashes and Basketball Court basketball court itself is now expect to By Matt Grubel be toward the end of October. The play- Construction of the new basketball may have been a layer placed on top ing area will be closer to adult regula- court turned up a layer of ash, along of the ash which helped fill the former tion size and consist of one full court. with oyster shells, old bottles and other mill ponds. The option for an additional half court trash. These came up while digging the The basin is designed to allow col- remains open for the future. infiltration basin that will be under the lected surface water to percolate into In addition to the new court, some new basketball court. This basin is a key the ground. Runoff will be collected at of the footwalks will be rerouted to bet- component in a demonstration storm four inlets around the court; one inlet ter connect with the south side in ‘C’ water system that is helping cover a por- on 43rd street, one on each side of the Park. This was to provide good pedes- tion of the cost of replacing the court. Kingsessing Ave. parking lot, and one trian access across the park. It will more Work began August 20th with walls next to the court itself. If the water level than make up for the loss of the side- of straw bales to control erosion and in the basin ever gets too high, the main walk along Kingsessing Ave., now used protect the trees. Over the next couple inlet box is designed with an overflow for parking. Removing this old sidewalk of weeks the old court surface, benches, relief. This will carry water back to the helped provide space for a wider court fencing, and baskets were removed and existing storm sewer line under the side- without cutting into lawn area. Included then excavation began for the infiltra- walk. in the project was the removal of two tion basin. It was during this excavation All of this effort is to reduce the trees. One was enmeshed in the fencing that the oyster shells and old bottles times the sewer treatment system gets and never belonged there. The other came up along with the ash fill. It’s pos- overwhelmed. The problem is that the was an older Norway Maple that had sible that the shells were simply trash, or sewage and storm water sytems are one done better than expected over the past several years. However, the roots were were knotted and, in spite of pruning, Fall 2007 Volunteer Opportunities more limbs were dying. 18 new trees will be planted in Clark Park this fall. That’s a mammoth under- The Basketball Court project is being taking and we’re going to need scores of Friends of Clark Park (plus their friends overseen jointly by the City, with Phila- too!) to carry it off. Can you help? delphia Green and Cahill Associates do- You don’t need skills or tools, just a willingness to get dirty. We have planted 70 ing the design work. If you’re interested trees in the last five years and professional guidance from our Member Lisa Hanes in the technical details, browse to http:// of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. PHS and University City District came www.clark-park.org/planning/BBallDrain. up with the trees. Now we need the bodies. html to examine the plans for the proj- We’re going to do this project in three stages. So we’ll need volunteers for three ect, and on the Clark Park website, vid- Saturday mornings: on October 13, October 20 and November 17. Continental eos of the April 2007 meeting can be breakfast and lunch in the park will be provided. viewed. Which days can you help on? Contact volunteer coordinator Tony West at [email protected] or 267-456-5687.  Friends of Clark Park Advanced Level Memberships for 2007 Their Donations Put Muscle Behind Clark Park Friends of Clark Park is grateful to our advanced members. A thousand demands clamor for every dollar; those who are able to support our cherished green space are making a great contribution to this community. Thank you all so much! Lifetime (2007 Level $500) Cynthia Roberts & Dan Biddle Melani Lamond & Brian Ratigan Liz Campion & Larry Motyka Jonathan Snyder Martha & Marshall Ledger Adam & Sarah Goldman Harry Wilkinson Joe & Vanessa Lowry Benefactors (2007 Level $175) Patrons (2007 Level $50) Carolyn McCoy & Bill Sanderson Peter Ciampa The Woodlands Jacqueline McCrea & Brian Yachyshen Diane Gallagher, HMS School David Ade & Paul Steinke Joe & Betty Moloznik Mary Goldman Frank Bellafante Dr. Alice Moyer Eva Himmelein Kirsti & Tony Bracali Susan Pierce Ann Johnson & Andy Leonard Paul Brooks & Joan Halbert Margie Politzer James Matthew Lane & Angela Eleanor & Nicholas Cernansky Libby Rosof & Murray Dubin DiMaria Thomas Childers & John Hall Joseph Shapiro Deidre Martin, Uhuru Solidarity Merrill & Susan Clampet-Lundquist Phoebe & George Shinn Movement Katie Cofey Margaret Strothers Howard & Amy Neukrug Lisa Dustin & John Hanson Louis Tannen & Carolyn Carr Anthony West Kevin Fisher & Katie Dowdell Mark Wagenveld Joy Wiltenberg & Rick Womer Scott & Nancy Geryk Robert Weinberg & Eric Matzke Sponsors (2007 Level $100) Brent Gray Joan Wells Rudy & Kate Fuller Huang Shudong & Lu Liyuang Kathleen & Andrew Wheeler Jon Hoffman & Patricia Redmond Frank Innes & Mary Brewster Ezra Wolfe Sally Johnson Cornelia King Margaret Kasschau & Don Gillis Ann Kreidle & Patrick O’Neill Renew Your Membership! This past Spring, we announced that we on your mailing label is the Expiration Date of the meeting on October 17th, you can renew would be raising the FoCP membership rates ef- your current membership. If that date’s anytime there, too. fective September 1st. Those rates are listed on soon, then please, use the form above to renew (Thanks to Bruce Anderson for suggesting the renewal form below. your membership so you can continue to sup- we put this form here in the newsletter.) The date we’ve printed above your name port Clark Park. If you’re planning on attending

Friends of Clark Park  Life in Clark Park

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Contents Calendar of Events 1 Oysters, Ashes and Basketball Court 6 FoCP Leaders Oppose SEPTA’s (lack of) Plan 1 Fall 2007 Volunteer Opportunities 6 General Membership Meeting October 17 1 Advanced Level Memberships for 2007 7 A Soggy Soccer Check-in Day goes off without a hitch 2 Renew Your Membership! 7 North Park Redesign Awaits Architect’s Word 3 Life in Clark Park 8 July 21, 2007 5

Friends of Clark Park PO Box 31908 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104

In This Issue: Dickens gets visitors, the neighborhood gets music, and we get a new Basketball Court. And we talk to SEPTA about Chester Ave..