Fall For Your Park 2008
Olney Rec Center and Park Get a Makeover

Three hundred volunteers from around the city brought fresh paint, fresh plantings and a fresh spirit to Olney Recreation Center and the neighboring Tacony Creek Park on Saturday, Oct. 4, for Fall for Your Park. This year’s event was the 9th annual green-up and cleanup organized by Philadelphia Green, the PHS urban revitalization program, in partnership with the Department of Recreation and the Fairmount Park Commission.

Strong contingents from the city’s universities, including Temple, Drexel and Penn students, volunteers from parks friends groups, young men from the Church of Latter Day Saints, young people from the community service organization Books with Borders, hardy souls from the Men’s Garden Club, and other volunteers from the surrounding community and nearby rec centers provided the energy. They planted 500 bulbs and perennials, 43 shrubs and 23 trees, and they removed more than 7 tons of trash and invasive materials. 

“This year’s Fall for Your Park really brought the community together,” said Jennifer Mahar, Philadelphia Green’s parks network coordinator. “The dramatic plantings throughout the rec center, especially those around the entrance, should impress visitors with the beauty and importance of greening and gardening. Neighborhood centers and parks are vital to the well-being of a community, but they can’t thrive without care and support.”

The three-hour workday concluded with a free lunch and a program presented by community leaders and local officials. The speakers included Jane Pepper, PHS president; Blaine Bonham, PHS executive vice president; David Harris, Olney Recreation Advisory Council president; Susan Slawson, Recreation Department Commissioner; Joan Blaustein, director of the environment, stewardship and education division of the Fairmount Park Commission; Jared Liu, director of community programs for the Alliance for Community Trees; Councilwoman Marian Tasco; State Rep. Dwight Evans; and State Sen. Shirley Kitchen.

The event was sponsored by PHS, Department of Recreation, Fairmount Park Commission, Olney Recreation Center Advisory Council and the citywide park revitalization network. Support was provided by PA Cleanways, Mantis, Smith & Hawken, and the William Penn Foundation. Fall for Your Park is part of NeighborWoods Month, a project created by the Alliance for Community Trees and sponsored by the Home Depot Foundation.

FOR PRESS INFORMATION, CONTACT:
ALAN JAFFE, email or call 215-988-8833
LAURA BEITMAN, email or call 215-988-8836