DN Editorial: City budget is a no Park-ing zone
THE ACTUAL Value Initiative shouldn't be treated like the only item in Mayor Nutter's proposed $3.75 billion budget. It's time to give serious thought to the budget for the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation department.
THE ACTUAL Value Initiative shouldn't be treated like the only item in Mayor Nutter's proposed $3.75 billion budget. It's time to give serious thought to the budget for the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation department.
Nutter has pitched spending $51 million on parks, which is roughly how much the department is getting this year after a midyear boost of $2.7 million. It's not much more than the parks have gotten for decades.
A recent City Controller report found that 40 percent of the recreation centers that they visited had expired or empty fire extinguishers. More than half had problems with water leaks.
Back in 2008, Nutter pledged to increase funding for parks and recreation. By this fiscal year, the now-merged department should have been getting $59.6 million.
The Philadelphia Parks Alliance is pushing for $56 million. Council holds a budget hearing next Monday at 6 p.m. Show up and push the city to keep its promises.