11 South Philly residents sue to stop city’s overhaul of FDR Park

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Eleven South Philadelphia residents have filed a lawsuit against the city in an effort to stop part of the $250 million makeover for FDR Park .

The suit names Mayor Cherelle Parker, the city of Philadelphia and City Council, the Fairmount Park Conservancy and the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation as defendants, according to their attorney, Sam Stretton. He says seek an injunction against the project, claiming it will ruin the natural habitat .

“It's really a strong watershed park, and they are taking away all vegetation, all trees, many heritage trees, ripping it up — and they intend to put 40 acres of artificial turf,” said Stretton.

He says officials didn’t take the proper legal measures to overhaul the park, and that his clients feel their opposition has been ignored.

“Under Pennsylvania law, if there is a public park, it can’t be radically changed, sold, altered, leased without Orphan’s Court approval. Similarly the home rule charter requires City Council approval and I’ve seen neither,” said Stretton.

“From a practical standpoint, they’ve been fighting, they’ve been complaining, but they didn’t have the money to come forward, to hire counsel. I’m doing this pro bono for them.”

Parks and Recreation officials call the project an ecological net positive. They say their revisions for the park will help the habitat by adding 7,000 new trees and 33 acres of new wetlands , as well as adding athletic fields to make the park more inviting.

Representatives from the city would not comment on the litigation.

The city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment ruled this week that 48 heritage trees at the park can be cut down as part of the renovations.