Philadelphia, July 5, 2012 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter dedicated Hawthorne Park, Philadelphia’s newest public park at 12th and Catharine Streets in South Philadelphia. The park is the fourth new park added to the Parks & Recreation system this year. At three quarters of an acre, the $2.1 million greenspace features a world-class landscape, cutting-edge sustainable features and new public art honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.rnrnJoining the Mayor at the dedication were Michael DiBerardinis; Deputy Mayor for Environmental and Community Resources; Mark Focht, First Deputy for Parks & Facilities; Michael Johns, Acting Deputy Executive Director of Housing Operations, Philadelphia Housing Authority; Drew Becher, President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society; Cindy Dunn, Deputy Secretary for Conservation and Technical Resources at The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Pat Bullard, Chairperson of the Hawthorne Enterprise Center.rnrnHawthorne Park represents a key milestone in Mayor Nutter’s Greenworks plan and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s Green2015 plan—both of which urge investment in greenspaces in underserved areas. “Greenworks has committed the City to bring all Philadelphians to within a ten minute walk of open space. We identified a deficiency in South Philadelphia and acted to correct it. This is a great case of planning informing action and follow through,†said Mayor Nutter.rnrnFormerly the site of the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza Homes towers, the location was previously a vacant gravel lot, containing urban fill. Hawthorne Park represents a green keystone in the Philadelphia Housing Authority’s dramatic revitalization of the neighborhood beginning in the late 1990s. The original master plan called for open space, and robust community engagement in the design process ensured the implementation of this vision.rnrnA design team headed by LRSLAStudio incorporated the community’s desire for a park that was simultaneously green, relaxing and animated. More than 50 trees, 4,000 square feet of plant beds and 19,000 square feet of lawn were planted.rnrnMonumental granite seatwalls and game tables create places for mingling. An ample stage area exists for public performances. In addition, the Hawthorne is part green infrastructure with sustainable features such as 6,000 square feet of permeable paving, a high efficiency irrigation system, bike racks and drought tolerant plantings.rnrnFrom concept to completion, Hawthorne Park benefitted from robust collaboration among neighbors, funders, state and local government and non-profits. Funding for the park came from a $1.1 million grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, $300,000 in capital funding from the City of Philadelphia, a $300,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development grant, $250,000 from The Pew Charitable Trusts through the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and $250,000 from The William Penn Foundation through the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.rnrn“In many ways this represents a community’s vision triumphing over adversity,†said Deputy Mayor for Environmental and Community Resources Michael DiBerardinis. “From the very beginning groups like the Hawthorne Empowerment Coalition ensured this project remained a priority. I think it’s clear that others will invest in places that have such strong champions,†said DiBerardinis.rnrn###rnrnABOUT PHILADELPHIA PARKS & RECREATIONrnPhiladelphia Parks & Recreation is the City department that is most engaged in the lives of residents and visitors alike on a daily basis. Through its programs, policies and physical amenities, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation promotes the well being of the City, its citizens and visitors, by offering beautiful natural landscapes and parks, historically significant resources, high quality recreation centers and athletic programs, along with enriching cultural and environmental programs.