Council committee hears nominees for Parks and Recreation Commission; will deliberate in executive session

The Council Committee on Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs of the City Council held a public hearing to take testimony on Resolution 260346, which authorizes the committee to hold hearings for applicants seeking nomination to a reinstated Parks and Recreation Commission and to forward recommendations to the mayor.

Chair Phillips opened the proceeding and read the resolution’s title before calling witnesses and announcing a panel schedule. The committee took statements from multiple applicants and supporters who described professional and personal ties to parks, cultural centers and rec centers across Philadelphia and urged a renewed focus on maintenance, outreach and youth programming.

Several applicants emphasized personal and community experience as a qualification. "Sherro Playground was literally right in my backyard," Kamaya Gibson said, describing how the playground shaped her childhood and her interest in serving. Elaine Smith Holton, founder and artistic director of Font Philly, said her group’s work with the Hawthorne Cultural Center provides free programming and that the city could do more to connect organizations without infrastructure to Parks and Recreation assets. "We lose these really great opportunities," she said, urging better communication between the department and community groups.

Elizabeth Klas Maldonado, Pennsylvania state director at Trust for Public Land, said her organization focuses on building parks, schoolyards and trails and advocated for stronger care and maintenance of public spaces in Philadelphia. Former Parks and Recreation employee Jim Marino recounted decades of programming and event work and told the committee, "I feel like I'm uniquely qualified being a former employee because I know the department extremely well," pressing the council to push for more state and federal funding to fully staff and utilize park assets.

Other applicants highlighted procedural and access issues. Shannon Wink, who works in journalism and public relations, described repeated hurdles families face applying for after‑school and summer camp slots and said the city should streamline those processes so families do not have to complete multiple paper applications. Khalil Salam, who said he runs youth outdoors programs, recommended better connections between inner‑city youth and outdoor resources, citing Cobbs Creek and Fairmount Park as formative places in his youth.

Supporters also spoke for absent applicants. John Scan appeared on behalf of his wife, Olivia Scalan, summarizing her 15 years of fundraising experience in government and nonprofits and saying she would be an effective parks advocate. Additional applicants and supporters described nonprofit programming, apprenticeship links and plans for neighborhood resource centers.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about the commission itself; staff indicated the commission existed previously and is being reinstated as an advisory body. The chair explained that the committee would recess to deliberate the applications and make public recommendations of a handful of nominees to forward to the mayor, who makes the final appointment. The committee recessed into executive session and announced it would reconvene at 12:40 to make recommendations public.

What this means: The hearing collected testimony that the committee will use in selecting nominees; speakers consistently called for improved communication between Parks and Recreation and local organizations, more reliable funding and staff capacity, and fairer, streamlined access to youth programs. Final appointments depend on the committee’s recommendations and the mayor’s subsequent decisions.