New Law Would Protect Philadelphia Parklands, Backers Say

PHILADELPHIA (KYW NEWSRADIO 1060) – The Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Commission has proposed a new law designed to protect the city's parkland.

KYW's Pat Loeb reports that the legislation was unveiled at the commission's meeting this week and will now undergo a public comment period before it is introduced to City Council.

The new law would not allow any change to current uses of parkland -- including sale or lease -- without a detailed explanation of why the current use is no longer possible, practical, or in the public interest.

Commission chair Nancy Goldenberg says she hopes the law will prevent the loss of any more city parklands:

"It's valuable to the city.  It makes Philadelphia unique among American cities to have such a wealth of extraordinary public open space, and we need to maintain it."

Goldenberg says the law would prevent a situation like one recently in which part of Burholme Park was almost sold to a hospital.

Lauren Bornfriend, of the nonprofit group Philadelphia Parks Alliance, says the proposed law is long awaited and much needed:

"This is a potentially historic moment. There's a possibility to establish precedent for the next 140 years of parks and recreation in the city of Philadelphia."