October 2012 - Parks & Recreation - 59

Scenes from
Philly Parks (l-r):
Nutter leads the pack
at National Bike to
Work Day in May
2012, Nutter
conferring with
Deputy Mayor
Michael DiBerardinis,
DiBerardinis with
Community Center
kids, and Nutter, and
DiBerardinis in
Fairmount Park.

the runoff that causes overﬂows of the city's aging combined sewer system.
Some of the earliest beneﬁciaries of this $2 billion multi-decade investment will be Philadelphia school children. Another partnership, the
Green2015 partnership between the Department
of Parks and Recreation, Water Department, the
School District, and the Trust for Public Land,
will green schoolyards, nearby recreation centers, and the streets between the two, creating
" green linkages. " Up to 10 schoolyards and recreation centers will be " greened, " allowing the city

to make headway on its goal to have 500 acres of
additional greened acres to reduce stormwater
runoff by 2015.
" We have seen tremendous gains to date, and
I think you keep the momentum by offering incentives, providing resources and training, and
fostering new partnerships to make smart investments in our future...all of which we are doing in
Philadelphia, " Nutter says.
Interview by Elizabeth Beard, Managing Editor, Parks
& Recreation (ebeard@nrpa.org)

AGENCY VIEW

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation
Population: 1,526,006
Resources: 150 parks, 10,600 acres, 164
recreation centers and playgrounds, 70
swimming pools, 206 historic structures
Budget: FY 2013 $57,799,313 (includes
grant revenue)
Staff: 609 full-time
With 13 percent (10,600 acres) of Philadelphia's landmass under his jurisdiction, Deputy Mayor for Environmental
and Community Resources Michael DiBerardinis plays a crucial role in the greening of the city. But DiBerardinis and his
staff of 600 can't do it alone-community engagement gives his department
much-needed input and volunteer help.
" I think our size and the deep level of
public engagement and involvement are
unique aspects to our system in Philadelphia, " DiBerardinis says. " Our parks

and recreation cencan use such a model to enters are woven into
gage more communities while
the fabric of each and
planting thousands of new
every neighborhood... Michael DiBerardinis
trees all across Philadelphia, "
So even though we are
DiBerardinis says. " When govone of the largest urban parks and recernment acts decisively and with vision,
reation systems in the world, on a neighit presents new possibilities. "
That vision is what DiBerardinis sees
borhood-by-neighborhood basis we feel
in Mayor Nutter.
very small because we are so connected
to individuals and communities. "
" I have worked in the public sector for
One initiative generating community
my entire career and the key to getting
excitement is TreePhilly, the city's ﬁrstwork done in the public sector is havever free yard tree giveaway, funded by
ing a concise vision and the leadership
Wells Fargo Bank and supported by the
to advance that vision, " DiBerardinis
Fairmount Park Conservancy and the
says. " Here in Philadelphia, Mayor Nutter
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Treeprovides both the vision and the leaderPhilly will provide 4,000 free yard trees
ship. Such a vision...empowers and enin 2012 to Philadelphia property owners.
courages the Department of Parks and
" There has been such excitement
Recreation to think in new ways and
around TreePhilly that we think we
advance big ideas. "
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