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Description
The Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 to hear testimony on the following item:
170464 An Ordinance authorizing the Parks and Recreation Commissioner and the Procurement Commissioner, on behalf of the City, to execute a Concession Agreement with Treetop Quest, Inc., or its wholly-owned subsidiary, for an aerial adventure park in West Fairmount Park, all under certain terms and conditions.
Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs
Chair: Councilwoman Cindy Bass (8th District)
Vice Chair: Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. (4th District)
A
Good
morning,
this
hearing
is
call
to
order.
This
is
the
public
hearing
on
the
City
Council
Committee
on
parks,
recreation
and
cultural
affairs,
and
the
purpose
of
this
public
hearing
is
to
hear
testimony
on
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero.
Four
six
four
I
want
to
recognize
the
presence
of
a
quorum
of
committee
members
and
those
members
in
attendance,
our
councilman
Curtis
Jones,
jr.,
Councilman,
David,
O
and
Councilman
al
al
talked
and
Berger,
and
before
we
begin
I
want
to
ask
councilman
Jones
as
the
sponsor
of
the
bill.
Do
you
have
any
opening
comments?
Just.
B
Real
brief,
because
we
have
a
you
know,
member
that
has
to
do
some
things.
I
just
want
to
say
that
recreation
and
I'm
thinking,
madam
chair
for
her
emphasis
on
making
sure
that
young
people
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
get
a
variety
of
opportunities
to
experience,
different
forms
of
recreation
and
today
we're
talking
about
outdoor
topic
of
adventure
which
deals
with
zip
lines
and
things
like
that.
And
it
is
a
affordable
way
to
spend
a
day.
Learn
about
nature
and
we're
excited
to
utilize.
The
park
in.
C
B
C
Well:
number
one:
seven:
zero,
four:
six
for
an
ordinance
authorizing
the
parks
and
recreation
commissioner
and
the
procurement
Commissioner
on
behalf
of
the
city,
to
execute
a
concession
agreement
with
treetop
quest,
Inc
or
a
totally
owned
subsidiary
for
an
aerial
adventure
park
in
West,
Fairmount
Park,
all
under
certain
terms
and
conditions.
Okay,.
A
C
D
D
Wilkin
good
Warmack
good
morning,
Carolyn
baths
and
committee
members.
My
name
is
Mark
Volk
and
I
am
the
director
of
business
and
event,
development
for
a
Philadelphia,
Parks,
&
Rec
I,
appear
before
you
today
concerning
bill
number
one:
seven:
zero,
four,
six,
four
authorizing
the
parks,
recreation
commissioner
and
procurement,
commissioner,
on
behalf
of
the
city,
to
execute
a
concession
agreement
with
treetops
quest
incorporated
or
is
wholly
owned,
subsidiaries
for
an
aerial
adventure
park
in
West,
Fairmount
Park,
the
initial
term.
D
The
concession
agreement
is
ten
years
and
at
the
cities
option
to
renewal
terms
of
five
years.
Each
are
available.
Approval
of
a
long-term
concession
agreement
will
enable
the
contention
there
to
make
a
substantial
capital
investment
to
build
and
operate
the
aerial
adventure
parks.
The
concessionaire
will
work
that
five
hundred
fifty
thousand
dollars
to
make
to
make
to
build
the
park
and
restore
the
forest
and
spend
additional
funds
to
operate
and
maintain
the
park
as
a
high
quality
family-friendly
recreational
amenity.
D
The
concessionaire
will
also
implement
initiatives
and
programs
to
enhance
the
park
experience
and
make
it
more
accessible
to
all
park.
Patrons
highlights
of
the
aerial
adventure
program
include
efforts
to
hire
local
approximately
25,000
per
year,
restore
the
forest
and
remove
invasive
plants,
create
and
maintain
new
public
trails
with
very
mental
educational
signage
volunteer
in
annual
Park
cleanups
reinvest
the
revenue
generated
from
the
program
at
into
the
park
and
provide
1,000
free
vouchers
annually
for
Philadelphia
youth,
distributed
through
parks,
recreation
summer
camp
program.
D
A
You
very
much
for
your
testimony.
It
sounds
like
a
fantastic
plan
and
the
opportunity
for
the
citizens
of
the
city
of
Philadelphia
councilman
Jones
is
just
so
that
he's
going
to
you
know,
help
me
go
down
the
slide
system,
we'll
see,
will
be
rope,
will
all
be
there
immediately.
It
sounds
like
fun
for
someone
here
did
that
councilman,
a
governor
has
a
couple.
E
D
D
D
E
D
E
D
D
And
it's
you
know
its
own,
it's
an
experience
where
you're
really,
you
know
trying
to
pay
attention
to
your
surroundings,
and
it's
meant
to
challenge
you
and
we
find
that
people
find
it
a
really
good
opportunity
to
build
a
self-esteem
and
when
they
finish,
they
feel
a
real
sense
of
accomplishment
in
achievement.
So
we're
excited
to
you
know,
provide
that
experience
to
the
Philadelphia.
Well,.
E
One
of
the
things
I
like
is
someone
who
has
studied
agriculture
and
was
a
landscaper
friends
hospital
around
the
operation
for
three
and
a
half
years
with
a
Bachelor
of
Science
in
agronomy
from
Penn
State
University
is
the
fact
that
you're
going
to
help
remove
some
invasive
species
and
I
know
their
difficulty
in
a
large
part
of
the
park.
I
think
that's!
That's
a
great
thing.
Sorry,
the
last
question
I
have
in
just
an
approximate.
What
would
the
sense
of
the
cost
be
for
this?
It.
D
E
D
D
A
D
A
There's
no
one
else
to
testify
on
this
bill.
This
concludes
the
public
hearing
on
bill
number
one:
seven:
zero!
Four
six
four
will
now
go
into
a
public
meeting
to
consider
the
action
to
be
taken
on
this
film
and
I
want
to
recognize
councilman
Jones
for
a
motion
on
bill
number,
one:
seven,
zero,
four,
six,
four
thank.
B
A
Been
moved
and
properly
seconded
that
bill
number
one:
seven:
zero.
Four
six
four
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation,
a
further
move
that
the
rules
of
counsel
be
suspended
from
a
permit
first
reading
of
this
bill
at
the
next
session
of
council,
all
those
in
favor,
please
signify
by
saying
aye
aye.
Anyone
opposed
no
the
eyes
have
it,
and
the
motion
carries
and
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero.
Four
six
four
will
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation,
weathera
questions.
A
The
rules
of
council
be
suspended
to
permit
first
reading
at
the
next
session
of
council.
This
concludes
the
public
meeting
on
the
bill
and
there
if
there
are
no
further
business
before
the
Committee
on
Parks,
Recreation
and
Cultural
Affairs.
Thank
you
very
much
for
your
attendance
in
this
meeting
is
adjourned.
Thank
you.
Thanks.