►
Description
The Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Friday, October 2, 2020, at 10:00 AM, in a remote manner using Microsoft® Teams to hear testimony on the following items:
200374 An Ordinance renaming and designating Chalfont Playground in Northeast Philadelphia as the "Corporal Jimmy O’Connor Memorial Playground".
200424 An Ordinance renaming and designating the property commonly referred to as the 30th and Jefferson Playground, located at the corner of 30th and Jefferson Streets, as the “Howard McCall, Sr. Playground” in the City of Philadelphia.
A
A
B
C
C
I
now
know
that
the
hour
has
come,
and
this
is
the
committee
on
parks,
recreation
and
cultural
affairs
clerk.
Will
you
please
call
the
role
to
take
attendance
members
that
are
in
attendance?
Will
please
indicate
that
you
are
present
when
your
name
is
called
and
also
please
say
a
few
brief
words
when
responding
so
that
your
image
will
be
displayed
on
screen
when
you
speak,
madam
clerk.
C
Good
morning
and
thank
you,
this
committee
is
now
going
to
proceed.
A
quarter
of
the
committee
is
present
and
this
hearing
is
now
called
to
order.
This
is
the
public
hearing
of
the
committee
on
parks,
recreation
and
cultural
affairs
regarding
bill's
number:
two:
zero,
zero,
three,
seven
four
and
two:
zero
zero.
Four
four
clark:
will
you
please
read
the
title
of
the
first
bill.
C
C
A
C
By
continuing
to
be
in
the
meeting,
you
are
consenting
to
being
recorded
additionally
prior
to
recognizing
members
for
the
questions
or
commas
they
have
for
witnesses.
I
will
note
that
the
record
at
this
time,
for
the
record
at
this
time
that
we
will
use
the
chat
feature
available
in
microsoft
teams
to
allow
members
to
signify
that
they
wish
to
be
recognized
in
order
to
comply
with
the
sunshine
act.
The
chat
feature
must
only
be
used
for
that
purpose,
and
I
see
we've
also
been
joined
by
councilman
o'neill
clerk.
D
Yes,
I
would
just
like
to
thank
you
for
scheduling
this
hearing
and
members
for
for
attending
and
in
anticipation.
Thank
you
for
your
support
of
this
very
important
legislation
and
I'm
here
just
to
answer
any
questions,
I'm
not
on
the
public
property
committee
or
the
parks
and
recreation
committee.
I'm
sorry,
but
we
work
closely
together
and
I
do
appreciate
it.
Thank
you.
E
Aparna
palantino
deputy
commissioner
of
parks
and
recreation
good
morning,
chairperson
bass
and
members
of
the
committee
on
parks,
recreation
and
cultural
affairs.
I
am
the
deputy
commissioner
for
infrastructure
and
natural
lands
for
the
department
of
parks
and
recreation.
I'm
here
today
to
testify
in
support
of
bill
number
200374,
an
ordinance
renaming
and
designating
shelf
hunt
playground
in
northeast
philadelphia.
As
the
corporal
jimmy
o'connor
memorial
playground,
corporal
james
o'connor
was
killed
during
a
swat
team
of
operation
to
arrest
the
homicide
suspect.
E
E
The
department
of
parks
and
recreation
supports
this
measure
and
accordingly,
I
respectfully
request
that
city
council
approve
bill
number
200374,
I'm
also
requesting
suspension
of
the
rules
so
as
to
allow
for
first
reading.
At
the
next
session
of
counsel,
I
would
be
happy
to
answer
any
questions
you
might
have.
Thank
you.
C
C
C
C
B
B
He
made
the
ultimate
sacrifice
while
serving
the
citizens
of
philadelphia
due
to
the
pandemic.
He
was
not
able
to
receive
a
proper
send-off,
seeing
his
picture
in
the
playground
that
not
only
our
children
played
in
for
many
many
years,
but
his
granddaughter
and
future
grandchildren
will
continue
to
enjoy
will
be,
will
be
a
beautiful
tribute
for
his
entire
family
to
see.
C
C
Okay,
miss
o'connor,
I'm
here.
Okay,
does
that?
Does
that
conclude
your
testimony
for
today?
That's
that's
that
yes,
correct!
Okay!
Thank
you
so
much
then
thank
you
for
being
here
and
again.
Thank
you
for
you
know
for
for
being
with
us
here
in
the
city
of
philadelphia,
and
you
know,
we
know
that
this
is
a
tough
time
for
you
still
and
so
all
of
our
condolences
to
you
and
your
family.
F
F
F
Jimmy's
the
main
reason
that
my
wife
and
I
moved
into
the
19154
calvary
area
as
they
lived,
jimmy
and
tyree
live
right
down
the
street
from
my
wife
and
I,
and
my
daughter
and
other
daughters
also
played
sports
in
the
calvary
athletic
association
jimmy
and
terry,
also
god,
parents
of
my
middle
daughter,
gabrielle,
and
I
just
want
to
say
that
you
know
we
lost
someone
who's
near
and
dear
to
our
hearts,
who
can
never
be
replaced.
He
lost
his
life
while
serving
the
citizens
of
philadelphia,
the
renaming
of
shafon
playground.
F
The
corporal
jimmy
o'connor
memorial
playground
will
keep
his
memory
alive
to
every
kid
who's.
A
kid
now
and
a
parent
later
on.
Who
plays
or
will
who
has
played
sports
for
calvary
aaa
and
even
if
it's
just
a
kid
going
to
the
playground
to
go
into
swings
or
the
monkey
bars
they'll
turn
around
and
ask
their
parents
who
was
jimmy
o'connor
and
the
answer
will
be.
He
was
a
hard-working
family
man
who
laid
down
his
life
while
protecting
the
city's
citizens
of
philadelphia.
F
C
C
F
C
F
F
F
Can
I
help
you
with
this?
Can
I
help
you
with
that
he's
just
always
outgoing
one
to
help
neighbors,
friends,
kids,
coach
and
again
I
don't.
I
don't
know,
but
much
more.
I
can
add
than
what
michael
said
he
is
he's,
sorely
missed
and
I'm
in
contact
with
our
neighbors
being
on
the
civic
association
and
coaching
at
calvary.
F
C
Well,
thank
you
so
much,
mr
grimser
and
again,
we
appreciate
all
of
you
coming
forward
to
testify
and
to
you
know,
tell
us
more
about
this
person
and
what
they
did
and
and
what
a
great
asset
they
were
to
the
community
and
unfortunately,
what
a
a
big
loss
you
know
we
have
endured
in
the
city
of
philadelphia
as
well.
So
thank
you
so
much
for
watching
sure.
F
If
I
could
just
add
I
I
didn't
I,
I
took
the
advice
of
a
couple
people
I
spoke
to
I
they're
on
behalf
of
of
the
neighborhood.
There
were
literally
literally
hundreds
of
people
contacting
me
to
see
if
they
could
speak
on
his
behalf,
but
I
I
told
him
to
keep
it.
You
know
three
week
old,
the
three
they
called
because
we
didn't
want
to
tie
your
entire
day
up,
but
literally
hundreds
of
people
have
called
me
to
show
support
for
to
to
speak
on
jimmy's
behalf.
Well,.
C
Thank
you,
I'm
sure
I
was
just
gonna
say
thank
you
so
much
and
I'm
sure
that
knowing
your
councilman
as
I
know
him
that
there
will
be
an
opportunity
to
you
know
once
we
get
past
to
celebrate
and
to
do
more
of
a
public
recognition
to
have
the
the
recognition
that's
due
and
the
folks
who
want
to
really
say
a
few
words
councilman
did
you
want
to
add
to
that
yeah?
I
see.
D
D
D
That
will
hopefully
make
up
for
some
of
the
absence
of
of
the
proper
tribute
that
was
not
able
to
be
paid
to
jimmy
o'connor
while
he
was
in
in
after
this
tragedy.
So
it
won't
be
soon.
The
change
will
happen
soon,
but
the
the
actual
ceremony
and
dedication
will
will
hopefully
make
up
for
some
of
that
absence
of
proper
tribute.
C
C
B
C
C
A
E
E
Mr
mccall
served
his
community
as
a
faithful
public
servant
in
his
capacity
as
a
traffic
engineer
with
the
city
of
philadelphia
and
during
this
time
also
rose
through
the
ranks
to
become
president
of
highway.
Local
403,
with
afscme
district
council
33,
but
his
favorite
pastime,
is
always
helping
the
children
in
his
neighborhood,
be
it
planning
a
trip
to
see
the
phillies
or
taking
them
on
summer
adventures
to
see
life
outside
of
their
everyday
lives.
E
Mr
mccall
leaves
lasting
legacy
for
all
of
those
he
helped
throughout
his
life.
The
renaming
of
this
playground
is
a
fitting
tribute
to
mr
mccall
and
recognizes
the
indelible
mark.
His
life
has
left
on
the
neighborhood
and
the
children
he
loved.
The
department
of
parks
and
recreation
supports
this
measure
and
accordingly,
I
respectfully
request
that
city
council
approved
bill
number
200-424,
I'm
also
requesting
a
suspension
of
the
rules
so
to
allow
for
first
reading
at
the
next
session
of
council
I'd
be
happy
to
answer
any
questions
you
might
have.
Thank
you.
C
A
A
C
B
B
Somebody
must
have
got
hold
of
my
testimony
because
mine
is
a
longer
stage,
but
that
was
it,
but
you
know
all
all.
I
would
like
to
say,
as
president
pete
massie's
presidential
council
33
was
one
of
the
hundreds
that
mr
mccall
mentor
and
that's
why
we
are
requesting
that
the
park
on
30th
and
jefferson
street
to
be
named
the
help
mccall
senior
recreation
center
to
honor
his
legacy
and
community
service
and
activism.
C
That's
okay!
Well!
Well!
Thank
you
for
rejoining.
Thank
you
for
joining
us
and
for
giving
your
testimony.
You
know
it's
so
very
important
and,
as
you
know,
a
fellow
north,
philadelphia
native,
you
know.
Obviously
we
know
that
there's
a
lot
of
need
and
a
lot
of
folks
who
are
there
on
the
ground,
doing
really
good
work,
and
so
thank
you
so
much
for
being
here
and
for
your
testimony.
C
C
Any
questions
nope?
Okay,
all
right
unless
there
are
any
other
questions
or
comments
from
members
of
the
committee
that
can
this
concludes
the
hearing
and
we're
now
going
to
go
into
the
public
meeting
there
being
no
further
questions
from
members
of
the
committee
and
no
other
witnesses
to
testify
and
seeing
that
there's
none.
I
want
to
thank
all
the
panels
and
witnesses
for
their
participation.
Today
we
value
your
opinions
and
I
now
invite
all
panels
and
witnesses
to
please
disconnect
from
the
meeting
before
we
go
into
our
public
meeting.
C
Okay-
and
this
concludes
the
public
hearing
of
the
committee-
will
now
go
into
a
public
meeting
to
consider
the
action
to
be
taken
on
the
bills
before
this
committee
today
clerk.
Will
you
please
call
the
role
to
take
attendance.
Remember
that
our
in
attendance
that
will
indicate
so
by
saying
present
when
your
name
is
called
also,
please
say
a
few
brief
words
when
responding,
so
that
your
image
will
be
displayed
on
screen
when
you
speak.
Madam
clark,.
B
B
C
Okay,
councilman
garcia,
offers
a
motion
to
that
bill.
Number
two:
zero
zero.
Three
seven
four
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation
and
further
move
that
the
rules
of
council
be
suspended
to
permit
first
reading
of
this
bill
at
our
next
session
of
council.
Can
we
get
a
second.
B
C
The
chair
notes
for
the
record
that
council
member,
I
believe,
was
isaiah
thomas
seconds
to
motion.
Okay
great,
it
has
been
moved
and
properly
seconded
the
bill.
Number
two:
zero
zero.
Three
seven
four
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation
and
further
move
that
the
rules
of
council
be
suspended
to
permit
first
reading
of
the
spill
at
the
next
session
of
council.
All
those
in
favor
of
the
motion
will
signify
by
saying.