PRESS RELEASE UPDATE: Community Pushback Grows As Meadows Destruction Continues
As trees began falling in the FDR meadows this week (see yesterday’s release), community members are voicing their concerns that the destruction has begun despite pushback from the very residents this project is supposed to serve.
Meanwhile, as of August 25 a few small fences and gates have been placed in some parts of the park, but they're not everywhere and they're not alerting park users of the unsafe conditions to walk along all of the trails. This invites the question as to whether these small, sporadic fences are intended for actual safety or are being used as a means to prevent the public from seeing the clear-cutting, which is progressing as quickly as possible to destroy as much as possible before public opposition mobilizes. Police presence has been dramatically increased, with officers from Philadelphia Police and Civil Affairs and even federal agents patrolling our public park.
Thoai Nguyen, Chief Executive Officer, SEAMAAC (Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition):
As a Vietnamese refugee who has called South Philly my home for the past 47 years, with deep connections to FDR since childhood, I am shocked at Mayor Kenney's disregard for the concerns of his constituents and deeply disappointed with PPR's decision to move forward with the destruction of large swaths of FDR.
At a time when we are faced with environmental devastations on a global scale, it's unconscionable to destroy more natural green spaces for short-term profit.
Carolina Torres, South Philadelphia resident and former park ambassador:
I was a park ambassador for FDR in 2018 to collect surveys of what the Latino community wanted to see at the park. It’s appalling to see the lack of transparency and twisting of data to fit a narrative where it makes sense to chop down fields of meadow and trees. At no point during the planning process with WRT [the design firm] were we told about the environmental impacts and destruction at the park.
My community, in particular the latine soccer players and folks vending food on the weekend, had very clear priorities: cleaning up the current soccer field, creating a safer playground and having bathrooms with handwashing sinks nearby. None of which have been prioritized before the $30,000,000 investment to destroy the meadows.
The meadows provide respite for our community and natural wildlife. Destroying this oasis to create a for-profit commodity sends a strong message that PPR and parks director Justin DiBerardinis care more about “soccer professionals” than the general public. The needs expressed in the 2018 surveys have been completely ignored.
For interviews with community leaders, please contact:
Kermit O, hello@kermito.com, PP4FDR
Kat Kendon, katakendon@gmail.com, Save the Meadows
Thoai Nguyen, nguyent@seamaac.org, CEO of SEAMAAC
The Coalition for a People’s Plan for FDR Park (PP4FDR) is a group of 24 community organizations who support creation of an updated plan for the park that reflects the current needs and interests of South Philly communities, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the face of a changing climate.
Save the Meadows is a campaign of everyday people to protect FDR Park’s Meadows, one of the largest forests in Philadelphia, accessible to all residents by foot, public transportation, and bike.
