Newsletter

HISTORY OF TS PARK REVITALIZATION

April 23, 2007

Dear Friends,

Proudly, we are announcing developments with Taras Shevchenko Park (TS Park) located at Broad Street and Somerville Avenues neighboring Einstein Hospital, Clarkson Park, Girls High, YONO and the Yorkhouse Apartments.

In honor of Taras Shevchenko the Park was dedicated to the City of Philadelphia in 1921. Taras Shevchenko was born into a serf family in the Ukraine and orphaned at 11 years of age. He eventually won his freedom and went on to become an outspoken opponent of the socialist and national oppression of the Ukrainian people. As a poet, artist and revolutionary thinker Shevchenko’s work reflected mankind’s aspirations for personal liberty and national independence.

A 2003 collaborative effort of Lindy Property Management and Cambridge Companies established the new Yorkhouse Communities on the former site of the Jewish Federation Housing.

Upon joining the neighborhood the Yorkhouse Apartments quickly saw what had been an on going problem in TS Park. During the day the park benches had become a familiar destination for individuals drinking out of paper bags. The Park was littered with trash. It was not uncommon to find abandoned tires and other trash discarded at this site. In the evening the park attracted drug dealers and users. The overgrown brush provided a refuge to prostitutes. By morning the trash mounted to include hazards from the evening’s activities. Also the site was a target for graffiti and vandalism of park benches.

The Yorkhouse worked immediately with the evident problems as best they could. They paid contractors to remove the overgrown brush and hazardous tree limbs. Because the grass was cut so infrequently the Yorkhouse also contracted a service to cut the grass. Additionally, The Yorkhouse staff routinely police the grounds of the park to remove the accumulated trash.
              

Furthermore, they worked with local law enforcement and their own security patrol to help cut down on the amount of illegal activity.

Soon after with the help of the City of Philadelphia’s Recreation Department trash removal and grass cutting by city contractors became more routine.

The Yorkhouse wanted to do more. In 2005 The Yorkhouse Apartments solicited the neighborhood and contacted the Cities Parks Department, Recreation Department and The Philadelphia Horticultural Society for further assistance.

A neighborhood meeting was held to discuss the communities’ interest and ideas for the parks revitalization.

The ideas that emerged from the meeting were as follows:

• Ask the City to remove the hazards which include: broken concrete, Removal of dead trees and broken  benches. Request the city put 2 light heads on each of the two existing lampposts to increase lighting in the park.
• Replace the crumbling concrete walking trail in the upper park with a grit walking track equipped with fitness apparatus stations.
• Obtain a community kiosk that posts community events and gatherings.
• Obtain support from the Philadelphia Horticultural Society to develop a master plan for the park that incorporates gardens and the planting of trees.
• The community expressed interest in the park becoming Logan’s town square. A future place for art shows, music festivals and other venues

Neighbors and Local Business people became excited about the revitalization. Citizens wanted to know how they could further get involved.

In 2006 The Yorkhouse decided to promote the revitalization of the park by developing both a web site and a nonprofit group called Friends of TS Park.

In 2007 “The Friends of TS Park” was formed.  The mission of “Friends of TS Park” is to

“Bring together neighbors through the love of the environment
inspiring us all to be better Caretakers of our community”.

Specifically the group wishes to accomplish the following goals:

• Advocate for the Parks revitalization and preservation.
• Solicit government and private sponsorship for funding the beautification of park.
• Help organize volunteers who want to donate time and resources to the park.
• Be a forum for communication for the community in matters regarding the park.

Now that spring is here the planting of trees and flowers will soon take place in the park and the work of transforming the park into a vibrant community space will continue. We hope you will join us and lend your support to this important project.

For further information contact Carolyn Kennedy at Lindy@ Lindy Property .com or visit us at www.friendsoftspark.com.