Political currents steer us all, and at their whim. Since the advent of the Rendell Administration in Pennsylvania Fermata has been working alongside the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in a series of progressive conservation efforts. The initiatives (called CLIs, or Conservation Landscape Initiatives) have matured to a point where they are beginning to influence other states as well the federal government. The CLIs were the brainchild of Michael DiBerardinis, who served as the Secretary of the agency. Secretary DiBernardinis is now Commissioner DiBerardinis of the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department. As a native Philadelphian, the Commissioner felt it time to return home from Harrisburg. With a new administration certain (Governor Rendell is at the end of his 2nd term), Commissioner DiBerardinis decided to tackle one more challenge – the reshaping of Fairmount Park, the Philadelphia park system.

Fortunately the Commissioner has asked Fermata to help (i.e., lucky for us). The Commissioner is one of the most progressive  and inspiring conservation and recreation leaders in the country, and we are honored to work for him again. Fermata’s Ted Eubanks has now visited Philadelphia on four occasions, and has come away in awe of the history of Fairmount Park. Even though many Philadelphians tire of hearing about their firsts (America’s first hospital, zoo, art museum, free library), we believe it important to remind our public that Fairmount is America’s first park. Over the centuries the park has grown to include the cultural and scientific centers arrayed along Ben Franklin Parkway, the Wissahickon Valley, the Schuylkill trail, East and West Park, and a mind-bending assortment of facilities, lands, staff, and volunteers. Fairmount is America’s largest urban park, and the system offers more park land per capita than any American city over 1 million population.

Consider this. Standing in Love Park, you can walk up Ben Franklin Parkway to the Philadelphia Art Museum and the Water Works, connect to the Schuylkill River Trail and hike or bike to where connects with the Wissahickon Trail, continue up the Wissahickon to Forbidden Drive, follow Forbidden Drive to Northwestern Avenue, and for that entire 16 miles never leave park land. Hiking along Forbidden Road in the Wissahickon Valley you would never know that you are within in a stone’s throw of downtown Philadelphia. Fairmount is America’s great urban park, conserved and nurtured by the people of America’s first great city. For more information, go to Fairmount Park under Current Projects.