Today, Fairmount Park Conservancy announced a $1 million grant from the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation supporting improvements to the 348-acre FDR Park in South Philadelphia and bolstering the comprehensive plan to revitalize this signature Philadelphia public park.

The Comcast NBCUniversal grant supporting the FDR Park Plan comes through the Conservancy’s Fair Play campaign. The support catalyzes a community-informed series of investments and capital upgrades throughout the park which will result in positive social, environmental, and economic impact for the city and region — including new multi-sport athletic fields, the park’s first ever basketball courts, a food market pavilion, natural landscapes, and much more.

“The FDR Park Plan is a model for environmental resilience, and a catalyst for social, cultural, and economic benefit,” said Dalila Wilson-Scott, EVP and Chief Impact & Inclusion Officer, Comcast Corporation and President, Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation. “Experts project that this plan, which is one of the most significant park revitalizations Philadelphia has ever seen, will create great value for our region and position FDR Park to help grow the local economy and communities in South Philadelphia and beyond for years to come. Comcast is proud to be a partner in the park’s future.”

“This work is more than an upgrade, it is a necessary shift in how we think about parks for the 21st century,” said Commissioner Susan Slawson, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. “With strong public private partnership and support, we are advancing a citywide approach to clean, green, accessible spaces in every neighborhood. We are grateful to the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation for this generous investment in Philadelphia’s public spaces and in the communities who rely on them every day.”

The FDR Park Plan, released in 2019 by the Fairmount Park Conservancy and the City of Philadelphia, is a long-range comprehensive plan developed with input from nationally recognized landscape architects, ecologists, engineers, and youth development experts. The planning process included feedback from more than 3,000 community stakeholders in multiple languages through surveys and events.

The plan’s goals include reducing chronic flooding through new green infrastructure and adding new amenities for recreation for millions of annual visitors. Highlights of the FDR Park Plan include restoring over 100 acres of wetlands and natural habitats while also optimizing the park’s many family-friendly uses: playgrounds, multi-sport fields, basketball courts, baseball diamonds, multi-use trails, boating, fishing, a multicultural food market, and more. Since breaking ground in 2022 over $111 million in public and private funds have been invested in the FDR Park Plan, adding these five completed projects with more to come:

• Anna C. Verna Playground: The award-winning playground featuring North America’s largest swing set was created by experts in play and landscape design. This 2-acre playground on the banks of Pattison Lagoon integrates nature and play, and includes custom-designed structures, picnic sites, and new native plantings.
• Gateway Plaza: This pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly entryway to the park at Pattison Avenue and Broad Street is close to the Broad Street Subway line and a new bike path. A 6-foot-tall “FDR” sign welcomes visitors as they begin their park adventure, while custom benches, water misters, and tree groves make this entryway a destination in its own right.
• Welcome Center: Fairmount Park Conservancy led the historic preservation and adaptive reuse of the park’s original guard house (circa 1919) into the park’s first-ever Welcome Center. This LEED Gold-certified complex spanning 22,000 square feet includes offices for park management and program operations, public amenities such as food and beverage concessions in a courtyard setting, public restrooms, a terrace overlooking Pattison Lagoon, and a hall for events.
• Wetlands: A 33-acre tidal wetland constructed in partnership with PHL Airport includes thousands of climate-resilient native trees and shrubs, manages tidal flow in the estuarial park, and supports local wildlife. Nearby, a newly built 2.5-acre wetland uses “hummock and hollow” topography to foster biodiversity and ecological resilience.
• Pattison Lagoon: The ecological restoration of the lagoon, accomplished with significant volunteer support led by Fairmount Park Conservancy, includes hundreds of native trees and shrubs.

In addition to greater environmental resiliency and social and cultural opportunities, the FDR Park Plan presents significant economic benefits to Philadelphia. A 2023 study of the plan by Econsult Solutions, Inc. found that construction in the park alone will generate over $500 million in economic activity and reduce costly environmental issues such as flooding. The study also found that plans for new and enhanced park amenities will increase park visitor spending by as much 283%, and that better access to recreation will realize millions annually in healthcare savings. FDR Park offers an excellent example of how well-planned investments in public space bring widespread and recurring benefits to the surrounding community and region.

“FDR Park is one of Philadelphia’s most important shared spaces, and we are grateful for this investment by Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation as it serves Philadelphians now and future generations,” said Tony Sorrentino, CEO of Fairmount Park Conservancy. “Increased access to parks for physical activity leads to better physical and emotional health, and their power to help with climate-resilience is critical. Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation is supporting a plan that strengthens the city economically, environmentally, and socially by making this beloved park a more welcoming accessible public amenity for all.”