Cover of Grid magazine, April 2026, Issue 203. Main title "the FIGHT for FDR" over a collage of photos of FDR Park.
The Fight For FDR — April's cover story in Grid Philly magazine!
"Despite the odds, park advocates continue their efforts
to save the meadows"
gridphilly.com/blog-home/2026/04/04/south-phillys-fdr-park-renovation-proceeds-as-lawsuit-challenges-its-legality/
Funny thing — a $250M PPR project, the most controversial Parks project in Philadelphia, lacking in funding to go forward, and running over a year late. And not a single question about it from Council, or even a mention.
Video: www.youtube.com/@PhillyCityCouncil/videos (likely to post on Thurs)
Nope, nothing on FDR from Gauthier.
Let’s remember that Councilmember Gauthier headed the Fairmount Park Conservancy while it was creating the FDR Park Plan.
Councilmember Jamie Gautier says she’s going to have a few questions about capital projects. Let’s see if FDR park is among them.
The FDR Park Plan has nothing to do with “equity, sustainability, and responsibility.”
And PPR is not “maintaining its tree canopy” — it’s mowing it down and selling the lumber.
The next panel — Parks & Rec along with Free Library — is finally starting. With commissioner Susan Slawson.
Seems as if Human Services ran overtime from this morning. It’s question time for them now.
Testimony from Parks & Rec (and also Libraries) should be coming up when Council is done with this.
Check schedule: phlcouncil.com/budget2027/
Watch live: phlcouncil.com/watch-city-council/
Watch after video is posted: www.youtube.com/@PhillyCityCouncil/videos
Public testimony on all depts is held separately, on May 6.
Today at 1pm, Philadelphia Parks & Rec testifies on its budget for FY2027, in City Hall 400. Another dept is also testifying, but it looks like Parks goes first.
Last year Commissioner Sue Slawson told Council the FDR Park Plan was "funded completely" (see video). Not true then, not true now.
Want to help these neighbors bring the fight to the next level? Pitch in a little something at actionnetwork.org/fundraising/...
"Ultimately, one of the reasons Woods-Skipper didn’t grant a preliminary injunction was because the court found it would 'adversely affect the public interest.'”
—@inquirer.com
Apparently she feels the public is better served by 30 acres of toxic, PFAS-laden artificial turf than trees and nature.
A setback for the South Philly neighbors suing to stop the FDR Park Plan and save the Meadows. Orphans Court Judge Woods-Skipper denies them a preliminary injunction.
But they're not giving up — they're taking it to Commonwealth Court.
More at docs.google.com/document/d/1...
6:30pm Fri at Headhouse Books: The Problem with Plastic
An evening with author Judith Enck & @whyy.org's Susan Phillips
RSVP: headhousebooks.com/event/2026-0...
@judithenck.bsky.social @beyondplastics.bsky.social
A parent of a young South Philly athlete started a petition to stop the city from installing more toxic artificial turf fields, like the one at Murphy Rec.
If you or your child plays sports in Philadelphia, take a moment to sign. Your park could be next.
bit.ly/choosegrassnotplastic
FDR Park Meadows Walk ❄️ POSTPONED ❄️ one week, due to predicted storm. New date: March 1. bit.ly/meadowswalk222
Photo of pond edge in the FDR Meadows, in winter, showing trees, water and sky.
FDR Park Meadows Walk - Sun Feb 22 10am-noon
Join us for a lovely stroll through 100 acres of urban forest and meadow west of Shedbrook Creek, and learn how you can help protect South Philly's last natural area.
Details & RSVP: bit.ly/meadowswalk222
Who's up for another round?
🌳 Meadows defenders 🌳, that's who!
Join us in Phila. City Hall courtroom 425 on Tues or Wed.
Come early, come late, come whenever — it's all good!
Details: docs.google.com/document/d/14JtEZish1L1yyAxSnI5Lbk-Z2JqamcXBNNBE2ReCoBM/
A lawsuit filed by 11 South Philadelphia residents aiming to stop renovation work at FDR Park will move forward, after a judge on Friday overruled the city’s argument that the plaintiffs waited too long to take legal action.
— from @whyynews.bsky.social
This means the case will move toward trial.
Next is a hearing on the plaintiffs' request for an order to halt work. That starts Tuesday Feb 10 in Philadelphia City Hall 425. docs.google.com/document/d/14JtEZish1L1yyAxSnI5Lbk-Z2JqamcXBNNBE2ReCoBM/
Hope to see you there!
Protest signs ("Let the people speak," "No land grab" etc) hang on a construction fence at the FDR Meadows in Philadelphia in May 2024.
The decree is in on the FDR Park Plan lawsuit!
The plaintiffs won on all points. All the City's objections were overruled.
drive.google.com/file/d/16dpqROhUa7XNsCM-uJ4q5hyAgLhMzjLX/
Show up for the FDR Meadows! In court this week, in Philadelphia City Hall. Stop on by!
Info: docs.google.com/document/d/1rdRoZlUlcI-oFG6dlsyOZs6ANA76q_WMTgMuKmmCMYE/
Photo of barren cleared area of FDR Park, with earthmoving equipment. Overlay lettering: IT'S NOW OR NEVER / STOP THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FDR MEADOWS
TODAY: Take 2 minutes to tell the state of Pa. to stop the needless destruction of green space in FDR Park by the city & Fairmount Park Conservancy.
Why and how:
📞 Gov Josh Shapiro (all PA) savethemeadows.com/call-governor-shapiro
📞 Pa. Sen. Nikil Saval (Dist 1) savethemeadows.com/call-senator-saval
Side-by-side maps: from City application showing border meadows vs Conservancy plan showing turf fields
The City of Phila's application to the state DEP is deeply deceptive. ❌ It promises “border meadows” ❌ But the park plan shows turf fields planned in those exact spots.
☎️ Gov Josh Shapiro
savethemeadows.com/call-governor-shapiro
☎️ Pa. Sen. Nikil Saval
savethemeadows.com/call-senator-saval
🌿 South Philly has just 5% canopy but the city wants to destroy thousands of trees here, including heritage trees, and install 32 acres of toxic artificial turf.
☎️ Gov Josh Shapiro
savethemeadows.com/call-governor-shapiro
☎️ Pa. Sen. Nikil Saval
savethemeadows.com/call-senator-saval
⚡️ PHONE ZAP ⚡️ Today & Thursday!
Take 2 minutes to tell the state of PA to stop the needless destruction of green space in South Philly by the city and Fairmount Park Conservancy.
☎️ Gov Josh Shapiro
savethemeadows.com/call-governor-shapiro
☎️ Pa. Sen. Nikil Saval
savethemeadows.com/call-senator-saval
Wondering what happened in the FDR Park lawsuit today?
Here's a summary: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Thanks to all the park supporters who showed up!
Poster text: This Monday MON JAN 5 10:00 AM Orphans Court, City Hall room 425 Attend the hearing. Show the court that protecting the FDR Meadows matters to you — Hearing likely to last just 1-2 hours. Share
On Monday Jan 5, the City of Phila & Fairmount Park Conservancy will ask the court to dismiss the lawsuit to save FDR Park. bit.ly/stmlegalfund
‼️ Come to the hearing — show that this matters to our communities — stop the destruction of our park! 🏞️
Where, when: www.instagram.com/p/DTEARUFDw2n/
❄️ Suddenly it's a winter wonderland in Philly! ❄️
Get your boots on this Saturday and join Save The Meadows for a walk through 100 acres of meadows and woodlands in FDR Park. We have some exciting new updates for you — and hot cocoa too!
Details and RSVP: bit.ly/meadowswalk1220
