Sign this petition to demand that Mayor Parker and City Council STOP the destruction of the FDR Meadows.

Adding your signature to the petition lets elected officials know that this is a growing movement, not to be ignored. Join us in our call for a seat at the table as we fight for democracy over development!

https://www.savethemeadows.com/donate
Since its inception, Save the Meadows has been entirely powered by volunteers. Some of you have offered financial support in the past, and two and a half years in, we would appreciate the help.

You’ve likely heard about the lawsuit filed by South Philly residents against the City of Philadelphia and the Fairmount Park Conservancy. The trial is in appeal and we may need as much as $15K for court fees, experts and more. Time is short, and the need is great! We have committed to providing financial support for the lawsuit and the appeal of the permit approved by the Zoning Board. This is one way to draw a direct line between where we are today and how we win! It helps create a true diversity of tactics in our efforts to fight for community-led development.

Beyond the urgent expense of this lawsuit, funds are needed to cover our monthly operational expenses, including our website, online tools, printing costs, community outreach and events, etc. Consider becoming a sustaining member.

Here are elected officials, in order of priority:

If you live in City Council District 2, start with Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson: (215) 686-3412 / Facebook / Twitter / kenyatta.johnson@phila.gov
FDR Park is in his district; his office partially funded the plan to destroy the Meadows.

Otherwise, start with Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker:
(215) 686-2181 / Cherelle.Parker@Phila.gov
Send a letter to: Mayor Cherelle Parker, City Hall, 1400 JFK Blvd, Phila PA 19107

If you live in PA House District 185, call Rep. Regina Young:
(215) 952-3376 / Facebook / Twitter / repreginayoung@pahouse.net
FDR Park is in her district; she currently seems favorable to the plan.

If you live in PA Senate District 1, call Sen. Nikil Saval:
(717) 787-5662 / Facebook / Twitter / saval@pasenate.com
FDR Park is in his district; he has criticized the plan.

Call your District Councilmember

Call At-Large City Councilmembers

Call and let them know you want to save the meadows! You will probably speak to a staffer (or a voicemail) but here’s a sample of what you can say:

Hi, my name is __ and I live in _(neighborhood)_. I am shocked that the city plans to destroy the remaining meadows and woodlands in FDR Park to build a suburban-style sports complex with toxic artificial turf fields.

• This is *not* an either / or - we CAN have both the Meadows and well-maintained sports fields in Philadelphia. But we need to revisit the plan as a community because it was developed before COVID changed our relationship to public green space.

• This habitat helps protect us from climate change - from providing cooling in the heat to a nature-based solution for water retention and flooding. It's also home to plants and animals that provide an invaluable range of biodiversity to South Philly.

• Public land should *not* be developed for private profit. This dangerous precedent cannot be how Philadelphia makes decisions that affect hundreds of thousands of individuals - shutting out the public and ignoring their questions, their concerns, and their voice.

Please oppose this proposal and do everything in your power to stop this plan and save the Meadows. Thank you for your work and have a nice day.

The goal is to make sure the official gets the message that you want them to save the Meadows. You won’t have to defend or debate your position, just tell them what it is. More tips are available here.

Did you see the supportive letter from the Citizen, or the scandalous cancellation of Lady Danni? Please help us amplify the stories of this fight, build momentum, and grow our support!

Share how you feel about the outdated & problematic FDR Master Plan. Speaking in your own voice through any channel helps our movement grow! Reach out if you’d like help getting your thoughts into writing.

Submit op-eds (guide available in the Penn Action Packet linked below)

Go to mayoral candidate forums and ask the candidates what their position on the FDR Meadows plan is.

Help spread the buzz!

We are gearing up for text-banking, phone calls, and neighborhood in-person options - choose the one that makes the most sense to you!

Spread the word: bring friends, family, and neighbors out to enjoy the space for themselves! If you have a connection to a local organization, suggest they hold their events at the Meadows. Let us know if you’d like us to promote your event.